The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1949-03-31
Along the Potomac
to Washington
BY j. Glenn Reall

of pension bill i'm this session for vet
Grams of World War yet may plague
them in days to come as the veteran.
Of that war feel more keenly the
economic stresses and strains OF
modern life.
Average age OF a World War |
veteran today is 81, according to
statements made by spokesman for
veterans organization last week.
Thus, hundreds of thousands of the
World War | veterans no doubt al
ready are in need Of the pension
money that Congress could give to
them and most others will be in need
of it in the next several years.
Contrary to many reports, the pro-
posal to give pensions to veterans
would not have cost 500 billion, or
even an approciable fraction thereof,
during my lifetime or yours. This
might be what it would cost in a
hundred years, or in 80 years, but
since when has it been a valid argu-
ment against a bill to say what it will
cost 25 or so years from now? If
that is the case, we might argue
against any proposal by pointing out
that during the next thousand years
it will cost trillions of dollars to
operate the government.
The facts are clear, at least to
many Congressman. These facts are
that the veterans Of World War |
performed a notable service for their
country, serving in the armed forces
with the possibility of giving their
lives for their nation. Now, many Of
them are aged and in need. The ma
ton owes these men some reward,
over and above the social security
that accrues to any and all citizens.
Pension plan is the best method vet
suggested thus to reward these ag-
ing veterans. The issue being that
clear, at least to me, / voted for the
pension proposal, which had been
amended drastically so as to make it
acceptable to every major veterans
organization. I will vote for such
pension plan again, when and if the
Democratic leadership allows it to
come before the House of Representa-
tives.
In connection with veterans af-
fairs, some pretty solid rumors have
been going the rounds in Washington
to the effect that the Veterans Adj
ministlation is planning to put off
paying veterans Of World War II the
81 billion in refunds on premiums for
wartime insurance.
These refunds, which are due to
some 100000 veterans, should have
been paid long ago. The Veterans
Administration, accused Of holding
up the payments until next year so
that the Democrats will get the
political goodwill resulting from the
repayment, denies any such thing, of
course. But it is more than passing
strange that such payments should
not be forthcoming, in spite Of the
administrations cries of involved
bookkeeping and other excuses.
Three years have passed since We
Day. This huge sum has been held by
the administration. 1t has been draw
ing interest. 1t was collected from
men who were serving their country
at the peril Of their lives. Millions of
them could use their refunds now
Yet, we are told that getting these
checks out presents a gigantic ac-
counting problem.
On such a protest, the government
could refuse to pay its workers on
time. Any company that does business
with numerous people has a gigantic
bookkeeping and accounting problem.
But it doesn't use the problem as an
excuse not to pay its bills on time.
Several Congressman are going to
be working to learn why the veter-
ans Administration has not paid
the refunds. They are going to see to
it that, in case the payments are held
up until next year, the Democrats get
the blame for being such bungling
boolkeepers. Certainly, no political
benefits should accrue to a political
party which admits that paying vet
Grams their own money is such huge
problem that it takes four years just
to make insurance refund.
Under The Dome
am very much interested in sever
al cases before the Navy Board of
Discharges Review and am appearing
personally with the young men in
volved before the Board. | am hope
full that these cases can be worked
out satisfactorily and that the young
men will be given chance to re-
habilitate themselves.
l attended meetings of the House
District of Columbia Committee when
the sales tax legislation was reported
out and the Public Works Committee