Evening star., 1949-02-25
Veterans Pensions
To the Editor of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
Everybody is up in arms over Representa-
tive Rankin's proposed pension for war vet
Grams. The argument against it is that it
will cost money and finally it may cost as
much as $6,000.000000 a year.
This is the first time since 1882 that
have heard our national administration op-
pose anything because it would cost money.
What's happened to tax and Spend?"
The veterans are reminded by President
Truman that they will have to pay for their
own pensions. The veterans know they pay
in some manner towards all pensions
whether they get them or not.
Will not the veterans have to pay for Mr..
Truman's proposed social security program,
the cost of which is estimated as follows?
Low Estimate High Estimate
1850 --$ 1924 million 5 2,231 million
1860 ----- 1850 million $4,000 million
1880 --- 1850 million 23,800 million
1000 - $4,000 million $4,000 million
(Source: Wall Street Journal, Feb. Is, 49).
The proposed veterans pension also is op-
posed because it prefers one class over an
other. Are not the warehouses (and the
Government is fixing to build more) bulging
with farm products bought by the Govern
ment to subsidiZe the farmers? What is
the tax on oleo for? Who pays New York
and Maryland to keep an unemployment
vacationing there on their weekly allowance?
Further, after this Government sends mil
lions Of soldiers to foreign lands at cost
of more than $500,000, 100000 and many
lives to preserve "our way" 1t throws $6.-
100000 year over there to repair the
damage we did to them.
1t has ben suggested editorially that If
the veterans are voted this pension, they
should be denied social security benefits and
aJ- 70
plans. Are John L. Lewis miners and other
union boys to be denied social security be-
cause they receive pensions from fund es-
tablished by employers?
Also Mr.. Lewis pays his miners 500
month as against 500 for a veteran. May
be a veteran isn't worth as much as coal
miner.
And now to be Serious-if, as and when
this Government stops its concerted effort
to destroy the initiative that made this
country, and let's the proletarians know that
it cannot give everybody something for
nothing, will be happy, and am sure all
thinking veterans will be willing also, to
forgo a pension, even though not many Of
us get tax free income of from $4,000 to
$50,000 year.
The veterans will be very happy to stop
trying to raid the United States Treasury.
when every other selfish clique stops rsiding
it. A WORLD WAR I VETERAN.
To the Editor of The Star:
am in favor of the Veterans Pension
Bill because the practice of helping our vet
Grams in their old age is as American as
Bunker Hill, Gettysburg or San Juan.
am in favor of this bill because it would,
I hope, prevent our government bureaus
from wasting money on half-baked socialis-
tic schemes such as socialized medicine, edu-
cation, etc.
further favor this bill to be passed quick
ly so that taxes will not be raised further
by the Fair Deal for their own political ideas.
I favor this bill because the Presidents
salary has been raised 331sfo and his non
taxable expense account about doubled; and
because the top men in Government and the
high brass" in all of our armed forces are
slated for an extravagant raise in spite of
falling prices.
We have given billions for the support of
men who fought against us. why not help
the men who fought for us?
VETERAN WORLD WAR ONE.