Evening star., 1949-02-23

HnQS IL convenient 10 minimize Gne gravity
OF the case OF Cardinal Mindszenty by throw
ing the charge Of religious persecution at
a country where there never have been any
religious prosecutions.
But let me ask this: Would any Greek
or any American for that matter, conscious
Of the important American aid to Greece
sit back and tolerate q laxity in the en-
forcement of the military law, whilst the
guerrillas, on the other hand, keep strength
ening their forces by the constant shang-
haiing Of young men and women from the
very district in which the executed "consci-
entious obiector' proclaimed his pseudo
sanctity? MEMAS KOLAITIS.
Veterans Pension Bill Opposed
To the Editor Of The Star:
I am the wife Of veteran Of World War
II and greatly disturbed over the proposed
veterans pension bill, which has been re-
ported out favorably by the House Veterans
Committee with some committee members
protesting against Chairman Rankin's tao
tics).
1t is estimated that this proposal will mount
in cost until it reaches the staggering sum
of six billion dollars year by 1890, and, in
the aggregate. will amount to almost half Of
the total expenditure for the last war.
1t Is no justification that similar pensions
are enjoyed by veterans Of the Spanish
American War. They did not have CT Bill
OF Rights. and all the other benefits accorded
to recent veterans by the Government in the
fields of housing, employment. education, etc.
There is no excuse for this bill either, in the
fact that in certain isolated cases some vet
Grams have been unfairly treated Surely
these can be remedied by less drastic and
far-reaching application. Nor is the fact
that some older veterans of World War now
are unemployed a sufficient reason for pen
sions. Extension and Strengthening of our
social security laws would help these men
or their dependents, as we'll as all the other
needy and the aged.
Under the new rules adopted by Congress,
this pension bill Is certain to be brought to
the floor Then Congress really will be ION
the spot" No Congressman dares to vote
against the veteran" though his conscience
and his intelligence warn him to vote
against any measure destined to 50 burden
the American taxpayer.
But q Congressman. in my opinion. would
be voting not only against the veteran but
against all the American people in supporting
this legislation. ThSS American. I. Veterans
Committee already has testified TO its op-
position. The Veterans of Foreign Wars.
through its Legislative COMMITTEES and for
different reasons. have-denounced@tt
are not to be bought" and that they are
citizens first and veterans second, call upon
all veterans, individually and through their
organizations, to write Congress Of their op-
position to this proposed pension bill.
JOAN F. FABER.
No Profit at Taxpayers Expense
To TIL. Editor of The Star:
In the February IA issue of The Star,
your front page cartoon depicted various
groups which allegedly have received Ger
tain benefits at the expense Of the tax
payer.
I would like to take exception to the i'm
preston given by the cartoon that the
veteran has profited from the GI housing
program at the expense of the taxpayer.
Veterans have paid and paid dearly in many
cases for some Of the most inferior housing
ever put on the market.
The veteran who received nominal pay
during the war faced q desperate housing
situation upon return to civilian life. His
position was quite different from that OF
those who remained behind and accumulated
savings from large pay checks. The vet
eran with savings exhausted and no ade-
quate place to live had one alternative,
the purchase Of a CT house. With the
exception of the interest on $4,000 for one
year, the veteran will pay every cent OF
the price, plus interest. The administrative
expense of the Veterans Administration
housing program cannot be any more than
that Of the Federal Housing Administration.
The CT house is not gift to the veteran
from the taxpayer F. X. PEACOCK.
Thinks Younger Vets Should Wait
To the Editor of The Star
I am heartily in agreement with the views
Of John Thornton as published in The Star
concerning veterans pensions.
In justice to the World War vets. who
didn't try to include themselves in the pen
sions awarded to the Spanish American
vets nearly 80 years ago, is it not fair that
length of time to relieve the strain on the
heavily tax-burdened citizens?
Instead Of a general pension to able
bodied veterans wouldn't it be more justi-
fable to reduce the 1907 permanent dis
ability clause now in effect, SO that the
partially disabled and older vets could
receive some little help in their own homes
instead Of being required to wait their
turn to be admitted to some hospital or
home-facility many miles from their loved
ones? HAROLD j. OLIVER.
Golf Course Management Criticized
To the Editor OF Ihe star:
l have noticed two or three articles on
the leasing of the public golf courses OF the
city in your valued paper lately. I have
played golf on three Of these public courses
for more than IL years. The greens are
very little, if any, better now than when
first played on them. AS compared with
the greens of any of number OF other
courses around here, to be charitable would
say they are third or fourth class. If the
present management can't do any more than
it has, it should be summarily dismissed,
and the courses turned over to an expert
golf course manager. A PLAYER.
Radio-Harassed Drivers
To the Editor of The Star: y
When the idea of radio programs in the
buses first was publicized. overheard
driver saying. Boy. do I dread that. Think
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