Evening star., 1949-03-22
Due
On Pension Bill
In House Today
Opponents Of Rankin
Plan Open Attack;
Drastic Change Seen
By Chris Mothisen

Opponents of the multi billion
dollar Rankin pension bill for vet
Grams opened their attack in the
House this afternoon.
Administration leaders conceded
privately that the House probably
would pass some sort of a vet
Grams pension bill, but insisted it
would be changed drastically from
the broad measure proposed by
Chairman Rankin of the Veterans
Committee.
The legislation, which would
provide $50 a month to all vet
erans of World Wars I and II at
the age of IS. was being debated
under three-hour limitation
agreed on by unanimous consent.
At the conclusion of general de-
bate. amendments were to be con-
sidered. A final vote was possible
late today.
No Distinction in Discharges.
Opponents began their attack
with strong criticism of the bills
failure to discriminate between
holders of honorable discharges
and those who received so-called
blue" discharges.
Representative Kearney, Re-
publican, of New York, former
commander of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, declared lit just
doesn't make sense" to make no
distinction between the veterans
who were granted honorable dis
charges and those who were
kicked out He said he would
offer an amendment later in the
day to place a character-o dis
charge limitation in the bill.
The Rankin measure would give
$50 a month to veterans provided
they were not dishonorably dis
charged and had served 80 days.
Veterans Groups Cited.
Mr.. Kearney said he was con-
cerned particularly that persons
who were released from service
without honor would benefit under
the bill. He pointed out that vet
erans' groups. in general. require
proof OF honorable discharge for
admission to membership.
Representative Judd. Republican,
of Minnesota. suggested. however,
that veterans holding the less
desirable discharge papers might be
those most in need of pension aid,
because poor heredity. environ
ment-the wrong side of the tracks
or something of that ort"-made
them unable to adjust properly,
either In service or in civilian life.
Mr.. Rankin contended there are
historical precedents for pensions
for all veterans regardless of need.
Il see no reason why this should
not pass" he declared. .
Il know some want to put them
on social security. but that's just
another way of sending these old
veterans to the poor house"
"Railroading" Charged.
The Veterans Committee ap-
proved the bill some time ago,
but several Democratic members
walked out of the committee
meeting at which the vote was
taken, and charged Mr.. Rankin
with "railroading" his proposal.
The Veterans Administration
has estimated the measure would
cost a total of 1875 billion dollars
during the first so years, and that
the annual outlay would reach
billion in the year 1000.
An amendment in the nature of
a substitute, to be offered by Rep
resentative Huber, Democrat, of
Ohio, would restrict payments to
needy World War I veterans. It
would give $50 month to those
establishing so per cent disability,
whether incurred in service or not;
SIS for rs per cent disability and
$50 for total disability or on
reaching IS.
A disabled veteran requiring
constant attendance would receive
$120 a month.
The Huber proposal, in general,
is in accord with the pension
legislation recommendations of
the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Representatives Davis and
Byrnes, Wisconsin Republicans,
said they were not convinced the
veterans concerned wanted the
Nation to undertake an expensive
pension plan now.
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