Evening star., 1949-01-10
Neviius Tract Hi
In Va Hospital
Building Slash
500 Instead of $50
Beds Now Called
For in Budget

sss
President Truman today proposed
that size of the veterans hospital
planned on the Nevius tract in Ar
lington be reduced from $3.50 to
500 beds as part Of a cut-down that
would wipe out more than one
fourth of the Veterans Admins
tration's vast hospital building pro-
gram.
In his budget message to Con-
gress the President said he had
approved cancellation of "a new
hospitals and reduction in size Of
Ia others. This, he said, will cut
out 10000 beds, which would have
resulted in serious overbuilding" in
terms of beds needed.
This is the latest step in a long
series of delays since architects
began drawing plans two and one
half years ago for a hospital on the
25-acre Nevius tract. 1t adjoinS
Arlington National Cemetery at the
of Lee boulevard and
al I1llSIO NlOSc 1OdU.
Plans Set Back Again.
VA officials said they did not
know how long delay in beginning
construction at the Arlington pro-
ject would result, but that it would
be considerable. Cost of the pro-
ject is estimated at baout $12,5O0,.
OOO
VA officials said last July they
hoped construction could begin this
spring, but revisions to meet the
reduction have thrown plans hack to
the preliminary drawing stage, it
was reported
Meanwhile, the Government was
to argue against a condemnation
jury's award of $1,60o,000 as the
price of the Nevius property today
before the Fourth Circuit Court Of
Appeals in Charlotte, N. C. VA took
title to the land under condemna-
tion after offering about $3.50, 900 for
the site
Non-Service Sufferers Hit.
Veterans Administrator Gray said
the drastic reductions will not result
"ir1 single service-connected vet
eran being denied immediate hos
piUalization." The cut-doWn, how
ever, will make far less beds
available for veterans with non-
service = connected ailments than
were provided in the original 9l-bed
program.
Mr.. Gray cited inability of VA
to staff the large number of beds
as one reason for the reduction. The
agency now has 110,433 beds, but
operates only 103 ,533, with about
$4,000 patients, he added.
Mr.. Truman said the reduction
would save about $237 900 900. Only
projects in the planning stage were
eleminated or reduced in size.
Overall Veteran Saving Seen.
The President forecast an overall
drop in Government spending for
veterans of $4,000 10000. He point
ed out, however, that the expected
cost Of s5,5Oo,0O0,0OO for veterans
will still represent more than one
eighth of the total budget.
Mr.. Truman also said that an
initial dividend estimated at about
$4,000, 100000 will be distributed
during the 1850 fiscal year to all
holders and former holders of ma
tional service life insurance.
Mr.. Truman said the Veterans
Administration is now reviewing
insurance records to determine the
status of the fund After that, he
reported, the amount of the divi-
dend and the method of payment
can be decided.
Veterans Administration sources
have said previously that they may
be able to make start on these div
idends next August. Dividends are
expected to range from few cents
to several hundred dollars and will
be available to all persons who held
policies effective October 8. 1910 and
thereafter, if they paid premiums
for three months or more.
President Truman'S statement was
the first official estimate of the size
and time of payment of the long
awaited rebate
$1,s93, 10000 for Schooling.
On the various veterans programs
the President recommended:
For education and training-$1,.
993 100000 as compared with $2,481,-
100000 in the current year. This
reflects an estimated decline in en-
rollment from 100000 to l.575,000
students.
For unemployment and self-em-
ployment alloWances-$73 100000, as
compared with $424,00O, 900 this year.
Eligibility for this benefit is running
out and the number Of claimants
is expected to drop from 100000 to
$4,000.
For home and business loan guar
antees-$48, 100000, the same as for
the current year, although the num-
ber OF guaranteed loans is expected
to drop from $4,000 to 293, 900.
Asks More for Medical Care.
For pensions-$2, 00000,0O0, COM
pared with the current 81, ,140, 900 900.
An estimated 2,968,0o veterans and
families will get compensation and
pension payments during the next
fiscal year, an increase of $4,000 over
the present year.
For hospital construction-$260,-
100000, an increase of $77,000,0 900
over the present year, due to the
progress of construction already
under way Because of the proposed
cut in construction, a net cutback
of $237 100000 in contract authori-
zation is recommended.
For hospital and medical care
s574, 100000, as compared with the
current $597,000,00O.
The President also recommended
re-enacting the ban on "hobby"
courses in the CT bill training pro-
gram. He said this ban would save
more tnan s50,000,oo0o this year.