Evening star., 1949-03-25
Rankin Offers
World War |
.Pensionsbi|I
Asks S72 Monthly
At IS for Veterans
| Of Low Income
BY the Assoeioted Press

ot me RSSoSioIed FfeSS
Representative Rankin, Demo-
crat, of Mississippi, today intro
duced a new veterans pension bill
limited to ex-servicemen of World
War I. He told the House he
hopes to bring it to the floor in
a short time"
The measure calls for $72-a-
month pensions to veterans of the
1918 war when they reach the
age Of IS provided their income
does not exceed $4,000 a year if
unmarried or $4,000 if married. or
with dependents.
Mr.. Rankin offered this bill less
than "a hours after the House
killed his previous measure to
pension veterans of both World
Wars I and II.
That measure proposed $90-a-
month pensions BY a one-vote
margin, 208 to 2O7, the House yes
terday shelved it by sending it
UdCh w S0lA1lIllttCC.
Rankin Cites Requests.
Mr.. Rankin told the House he
was introducing the new bill "at
the request of one of the great
veterans organizations, and also
at the suggestion of many men,
bers of the (Veterans) Commit
tee."
The new bill embodies some OF
the amendments tackled onto the
measure that was killed yesterday.
including the lower $72 figure and
the financial needs proviso. The
$72 was approved at one time
during the Houses backing and
filling over the bill. although 1t
later was superseded by a pay
ment plan based on length Of
service.
These changes" Mr.. Rankin
said. will greatly reduce the cost
of the measure and will eliminate
the alleged confusion of which
some members complained"
The bill was sent to the Vet
Grams Committee. of which Mr..
Rankin is chairman. Mr.. Rankin
told the House he anticipated that
it would be reported back to the
House in short time"
Some Action Foreseen.
Even before Mr.. Rankin came
up with his new bill, some law.
makers had refused to pronounce
yesterdays House action as mean
ing the end of pensions legislation
in this session of Congress.
Administration men were happy.
however, to have shelved the
original bill.
When the showdown came. ISL
Democrats and 81 Republicans
teamed up against the bill. For
it we're 100 Democrats, 100 Re-
publicans. and American
Laborite. Total: 208 against, 207
for.
President Truman told his news
conference the House vote was a
constructive, forward looking step.
which made him exceedingly
happy.
Shelver Is Combat Veteran.
The man who started the meas
ure sliding toward a committee
shelf was himself much-de
rated combat veteran of World
War II. Representative league,
Democrat. of Texas. Mr.. league.
who holds II decorations. was
elected in 1946 while he was a
patient at Walter Reed Hospital
here.
The measure was sent back to
the committee on Mr.. leagues
motion. upheld by the House.
OF the 217 House members who
served in either one or both Of
the last two World Wars. 81 voted
to shelve the Rankin bill, with Ill
opposed.
One iawmaker veteran was
paired for the motion to send the
measure back to committee, but
could not be on hand to cast his
vote in person. The other eight
ex-soldiers either did not vote or
were absent.
Priest Forecasts Action.
Representative Priest, Demo-
crat. of Tennessee, Democratic
House whip, declared: II don't
think this is the last of veterans
pension legislation at this session.
I think the Veterans Committee
will bring out well-considered
bill, particularly one providing
pensions for World War I veter-
ans"
Representative Van Zandt, Re-
publican, of Pennsylvania, former
commander Of the Veterans Of
Foreign Wars, pronounced yester-
days action "only the first
round"
Mr.. Van Zandt blamed defeat
on "the social planners. whom he
identified as a faction" seeking
to deny veterans special status
by Jumping them into a general
social security program.
Representative Kearney, Re-
publican, of New York, another
committee member and also a
former VFW commander, de-
clared, however. that the Rankin
bill would have rendered great
diSservice to the veteran" BY
sending it back to committee, he
said. there was an opportunity to
write a bill that is pood fair and