Evening star. [volume], July 04, 1930, Page A-4, Image 4

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

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A-4
JOHNSON DISCUSSES
VETERANS’ RELIEF
praises Hoover’s Veto and
Defines House Bill Passed
by Congress.
Praising President Hoover’s recent
Itoo of the proposed World War pen
sions bill and defining the House bill
for the relief of disabled World War
Veterans, passed in the final hours of
the last Congress, Representative Royal
C. Johnson of South Dakota, chairman
Os the House Committee on World War
veterans’ Legislation, last night told the
history of veterans’ legislation to the
Nation through the National Radio
Forum, arranged by The Evening Star
•nd broadcast over the coast-to-coast
network of the Columbia Broadcasting
Bystem.
Referring to the bill which brought
bn a bitter battle between the Chief
Executive and members of Congress,
and on which Mr. Hoover's veto was
upheld by the House, Representative
#ohnson said:
Bill Manifestly Unfair.
“The President vetoed this bill on
Fine 26, 1930. In my judgment he
eould not have done otherwise. It was
manifestly unfair and discriminatory.
To the man w’ho was fortunate enough
to secure a bed in a hospital, it gave an
allowance of from S3O to S6O, depending
on his dependants. To the man not
fortunate enough to secure a bed in a
hospital, who was willing to fight his
way in the world outside the hospital,
ft gave nothing. To the man with gout,
acurvy, rickets, pellagra and some other
diseases, it gave compensation. To the
man with certain forms of heart
trouble, phlebitis, bronchitis, dysentery,
malaria, pleurisy and other diseases,
which were entirely disabling, it gave
nothing. It took approximately 77,000
men unquestionably suffering from
certain specific diseases and gave them
everything. To 200.000 men equally dis
abled it gave nothing. Men suffering
from diseases Included in the bill might
have enlisted in June, 1921, nearly three
years after the close of the World War.
■erved only a few days, been perfectly
•ound as to health until December, 1929,
and receive the same compensation as a
man who fought throughout the World
War and suffered every disability.
“It was so discriminatory that no
President could fail to see It and, having
•een it, fail to veto it.”
Frankly Pension Measure.
Os the bill which w-as passed by the
Congress, and which had President
Hoovers approval, he said:
“Like every one of the bills proposed
by every veterans’ organization and in
every bill presented to Congress this
Winter, it is frankly a pension measure.
The other proposed laws grant pensions
by presumption. This grants pensions
M a matter of right.
“Its passage was from the beginning
advocated by the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and its commander, Hezekiah N.
Duff . He is a Spanish War veteran
•nd a World War veteran.
“In Its final stages it was indorsed
by the American Legion, by its com
mander, O. L. Bodenhammer, who
recognized the fact that it treated every
one alike and gave substantial benefits
to all seriously disabled service men.
“So far as I know’, it has not been
Opposed by any veterans' organization."
Text of Johnson Speech.
The speech follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Radio
lAudlence: Since Congress convened in
Its present session, on December 9, 1929,
there has been continuous debate in the
House, the Senate and the press con
cerning legislation for veterans of the
World War, and I have been asked to
discuss that legislation because of the
iact that I have been chairman of the
Committee on World War Veterans’
Begislatlon since the organization of
that committee. Much controversy has
existed and some acrimony developed
because of the divergence in views of
Bjonsors of different statutes.
In this discussion, however, I shall
b'oid all personalities and attempt
aather to analyze the provisions of the
different bills which have been presented
«> the Congress and the measure which
as vetoed by the President on June
S 6 last. It has been the custom for
many years for the three recognized
veterans’ organizations, the American
Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars
•nd the Disabled American Veterans,
•o meet in annual convention and pre-
Pre a resolution for recommendation
Congress and it has been my custom
as chairman of the committee to intro
duce those proposed bills at the request
Os the organizations referred to in
order that they may be brought before
(toe committee for action.
Measures Have Much In Common.
As would be expected, there is much
In common in the provisions of all of
these measures because veterans talk
among themselves, as do other groups,
follow closely and in much detail the
activities of all veterans’ organizations
and have much the same viewpoint on
legislative matters.
The original American Legion pro
gram I introduced on January 7, 1930,
and it became House bill No. 8133. It
bad a provision Increasing compensa
tion and giving further preferences to
those suffering from tuberculosis, but
the particular section of direct interest
was an amendment to section 200 of
existing law. which provided that ex
aervlce persons who could be shown to
have had before January 1. 1925, cer
tain specific diseases should have been
presumed to have secured those diseases
from their military service. The Legion
named a long list of diseases, most of
which are those which are extremely
disabling, such as diabetes, arterio
le levosis, arthritis, cancer, etc.
There were several others, but lack of
■me prevents my naming them
There was justification for this
amendment if we were to continue the
policy which had been adopted by Con
gress of presuming that diseases came
from war service, because such a pre
sumption had already been given in
favor of tuberculosis, sleeping sickness,
mental troubles and some other dis
eases which are by existing law pre
sumed to have been received in serv
ice if contracted prior to January l.
1925. The Legion bill had the virtue of
consistency in so far as it led In the di
rection of placing on a parity all classes
of veterans, but it was, of course, in
consistent to prefer a man with one
disease over a man with another dis
ease equally disabling. However, it did
not attempt to extend dates for the
presumption* I also introduced the
bill of the Disabled American Veterans
House bill No. 8134, which was much
like the Legion bill except that it ex
tended the presumption that a disability
was received in the service to January
3, 1930. It also had many other pro
visions which I have not the time to
discuss. I also introduced House bill
No. 9801 at the request of the Veterans
of Foreign Wars The amendment
sponsored by that organization was
much like the one submitted by the
Disabled American Veterans, but that
organization later indorsed a straight
pension program.
Baaed on Mar Disability Rates.
A member of Congress, Mr. Rankin of
Mississippi, Introduced House bill No.
7825, which selected a particular list
of diseases and provided that it should
be presumed that they had been con
nected in war service if contracted prior
to January 1, 1930. These bills were ail
considered by the Committee on World
War Veterans’ Legislation, which by di
vided vote on March 10, 1930. imported
a bill introduced by myself, known as
House bill No. 10381. Each and every
one of these bills was purely a pension
bill based on World War disability rates
lor service connected cases and in prac
tical effect gave a pension of from SBO
Ad 8150 a month, depending on the
J DESCRIBES VETERANS’ LEGISLATION
\ - \ JwA
\ | .T • m.? - ' *'lisalPixßaS** . xt®
REPRESENTATIVE ROYAL C. JOHNSON.
: —Harrls-Ewing Photo.
number of dependents of each veteran.
This was given in addition to the hos
pitalization granted by the Government,
which co6t the Government $l2O a
month, so that each one of the bills to
which I have referred granted a pension
’ of about S2OO a month or more to every
ex-service person affected who had de
pendents if such person was hospitalized.
In some cases the pension would be
$250 a month.
The bill reported by the committee
at least had the virtue of consistency,
in that it provided that any person suf- j
sering from any disability which could j
be shown to have existed prior to Janu- 1
ary 1, 1925, would receive exactly the
same amount of money as the few
classes already given the presumption!
of service connection. It was purely a :
pension measure at compensation rates.
It contained many other provisions
which were of great merit, but did in
elude one discriminatory provision j
which provided that any man given
hospitalization by the Government,;
which costs the Government $l2O a
month, should further receive an al-1
lowance while in the hospital for his 1
dependents. This was S3O a month for I
the wife, $lO for the first child and $6
for each additional child. That bill was
presented to the House and violently
amended. One amendment provided
that a selective list of people suffering
from certain diseases if contracted prior
to January 1, 1930, should be deemed to
have secured that disability In the serv
ice during the war. It contained many
absurdities. For instance, it provided
that a man who contracted the gout or |
had become so fat that he could not 1
w-ork. or suffered from hemophilia, a
disease that could onlv be Inherited
or rickets, a disease of childhood, or
pellagra or scurvy, that can come only
from a faulty diet, would be presumed
to have been contracted in the service.
House Made Bill More Absurd.
The House of Representatives made
the bill more absurd by providing that
the Government would practically be
prohibited from showing that these dis
eases were not contracted in the service.
It was further amended to provide that
any person suffering from any disability
contracted before January X, 1930. should
be deemed to have aecured such disability
in the World War. It would have cost I
somewhere between $181,000,000 and
$400,000,000 each year, in addition to
the $511,000,000 which now is expended
for veterans’ relief. It would have estab
lished a permanent pension policy for
non-service connected cases at the same
rate given a man who was actually in
jured in the war.
It was amended in the Senate so as to
provide that a certain limited number
of diseases contracted prior to 1930
should presumptively have been ac
quired in the service. As it came from
the Senate, it included the discrimina
tory hospital allowance to which I have
referred.
The President vetoed this bill on
June 26. 1930. In my judgment, he
could not have done otherwise. It was
manifestly unfair and discriminatory.
To the man who was fortunate enough
to secure a bed in a hospital, it gave an
allowance of from S3O to S6O, depending
on his dependents. To the man not
fortunate enough to secure a bed In a
hospital, or who was willing to fight
his way In the world outside the hos
pital, it gave nothing. To the man with
gout, scurvy, rickets, pellagra and some
other diseases it gave full compensation.
To the man with certain forms of heart
trouble, phlebitis, bronchitis, dysentery,
malaria, pleurisy and other diseases,
which were entirely disabling, it gave
nothing. It took approximately 77,000
men unquestionably suffering from cer
tain specific diseases and gave them
everything. To 200.000 men equally
disabled it gave nothing. Men suffering
from diseases included in the bill might
have enlisted in June, 1921. nearly 3
years after the close of the World War,
served a few days, been perfectly sound
as to health until December. 1929. and
receive the same compensation as a man
who fought throughout the World War ;
and suffered every disability.
Issue H’ell Drawn by Veto.
It was so discriminatory that no
President could fall to see it. and hav
ing seen it could fall to veto it. If this
bill had become a law. fairness, decency
and justice to the veterans would have
demanded that at the next session of
Congress every veteran be Included in
its provisions, and no government could
have sustained the cost of such a bill.
Not its cost, but its discrimination,
however. Is its vital defect because the
Government has a right to expend
whatever it desires on veterans. It does
not, however, have a right to descrimi
nate as between veterans equally dis
abled Ido nol know of a single in
telligent World War veteran in the |
United states who attempts to justify j
the discriminations, preferences and in
justices of the bill President Hoover ;
vetoed. Some of them may say that all ;
veterans who become 111 should be hos- i
a Loan with a Smile
' The terms of Morris Plan Loans
are simple and practical and fair
—i it is not necessary to have had
an account at this Bank to borrow.
For each S6O or Easv to Pav Loons are pass
fraction borrowed 3 ed within a day
you agree to de- Momhiy or two after filing
posit SS a month r£ij application
in an account. Loan Month* with few escep
the proceeds of $l2O SIO.OO tkms.
may be SIBO $15.00
used to cofictl on aa
the note when S MORRIS PLAN
due. Deposits #aUU 94XUO notes are usually
may be made on ss6o sso.oo made for t year,
a weekly, semi- $540 $45.00 though they may
monthly or •< jOO 1100 00 ** given for any
\lfZ SS-.SI snhaar*
MORRIS PLAN BANK
Under Supervision U. S. Treasury
1408 H Street N. W.
! "Character and Earning Power Are the Basis of Credit’* jjj] J
1 —■BißiiiMiiMßiiiiai—i— ■■■i—fcfißSMay
THE EVENING STAR. WASHINGTON, D. C., FRIDAY. JULY 4. 1930.
pitalized at the cost of $l2O a month to
the Government, and should receive a
pension which, with the cost of hos
pitalization, will cost from S2OO to $250
a month. That Is their privilege, of
course, but I do not know of one who
says that there should be discrimina
tions against or preference in favor of a
group of veterans. The issue has been
well drawn by the veto of the Presi
dent. and the whole matter should be
I thoroughly discussed by the people of
the United States because upon this
; legislation depends the welfare of 4.-
200.000 living men and their dependents,
! and also the economic condition of the
! public Treasury in the future. The
, Government owes a duty to its ex-serv
ice men, but it also owes a duty to its
other citizens, and the burden must not
be unbearable to them. In my Judg
i ment, it is time that politics be elimi-
I nated in the discussion of veterans re
j lief, and no one can deny but that there
| has been much politics in the discus
sion during the last session of Congress,
j No political party can eventually derive
j any benefit by advocating discrimina
| tory legislation, and the members of no
! one political party can possibly be the
j only citizens who desire exact justice
for those who defended the Nation.
There has been a good deal of dema
goguery in the discussions of this legis
lation. Men who previously have shown
no desire whatever to fight for their
country have become excessively enthusi
astic in the promotion of discriminatory
legislation. It has become the favorite
argument of men who have proposed
i some of this legislation to cite men af
flicted with tuberculosis and use that
class of men as an illustration.
Congress Has Been Sympathetic.
Our sympathies are extended to them
just as it is to all w-ho are suffering.
In fact, Congress has been so sympa
thetic with men afflicted with that dis
ease that it has already passed four
separate provisions of law for their
benefit. The first is the conclusive pre
sumption of sendee origin, which is not
extended to any other disease, except
spinal meningitis. The second one Is
the award of a temporary total rating
for six months following discharge of
the man with arrested tuberculosis from
j the hospital, section 202)2). The third
! is in section 202(3) whereby the tu
berculous veteran with an active condi
tion is given a rating of temporary
total for 3 years following discharge
from the hospital. The fourth Is the
provision of a statutory award of SSO
per month for arrested tuberculosis, in
section 202(7).
There is proposed In the House bill
which was passed immediately after
the presidential veto a fifth provision
giving men cured of tuberculosis a mini
mum rating of not less than 25 per cent
of disability. Manifestly before any
further pereferences are given to this
group, men suffering from all other dis
eases to which mankind is heir must be
given equal consideration. Naturally,
this brings me to a discussion of the
House bill No. 13174, which I Introduced
immediately after the President’s veto
and which was passed by the House of
Representatives within an hour, and
which was brought out of conference for
final passage today. Like every one of
the bills proposed by every veterans’ or
ganization and in every bill presented to
Congress this Winter, it is frankly a
pension measure. The other proposed
laws grant pensions by presumption.
This grants pensions as a matter of
right.
The policy of pensions was adopted
by the country immediately after the
Revolutionary War, and it has been its
policy after every war.
Struggle for Higher Rate*.
Once adopted, there will be a con
tinuous struggle for higher rates. It
is human nature to request an increase
of any emolument. It Is as natural
for a veteran to secure an Increase in
his pension as it is for a person who
works to secure higher compensation
! for his labor. According to the In
surance table, the last veteran will
probably die in 1997. Between now and
that date some one will be continually
demanding an increase In pension.
It will be the favorite plaything of
the politician. It will alway* be ad
vocated by those in no way responsible
for the conduct of the Government,
but who desire to become responsible
for it. Such has been the history
of the legislation. There will be more
speeches made by more men who did
less fighting on this subject than any
other during the next generation.
Through it all, regardless of the poli
tics. the Government will treat- Its de
fenders fairly as it has done in the
past
The new measure I am discussing
| does not change an lota of the law
I affecting men that we actually know
j received their disability j n service, ex
; cept to further help them, and. In
fact, extends the time for the filing of
claims so that any man who can prove
that he was disabled In the service of
the United States during the World
Wax has the right and opportunity of
proving his else
If he proves it, he will receive com
pensation at the present rates. Some
strict rules of proof have been Halved
in this statute, with this provision:
“Provided, that regulations relating to
the nature and extent of the proofs
and evidence shall provide that due
regard shall be given to lay and other
evidence not of a medical nature." We
know that there were some doctors
who treated men returning from the
service without charge or fee. and who
consequently did not keep records of
the treatment. That missing evidence,
under this measure, can be supplied by
the testimony of people who know the
facts.
It will serve to connect legitimate
cases of tuberculosis that have been
lacking in proof.
There have been cases of lost rec
ords by shell fire in Prance. If these
records have been lost, men will have
an opportunity of proving that fact
under this measure.
Provisions of Pension Bill.
Carrying out the historic policy of
the Government of granting pensions,
it provides:
<7 On and after the date of the ap
proval of this amendatory act any hon
orably discharged ex-service man who
entered the service prior to November
11. 1918. and served 90 days or more
during the World War, and who is or
may hereafter be suffering from a 35
per centum or more permanent disabil
ity. as defined by the director, not the
result of his own willful misconduct,
which was not acquired in the service
during the World War. or for which
compensation is not payable, shall be
entitled to receive a disability allow
ance at the following rates: Twenty-five
per centum permanent disability, |l2
per month; 50 per centum permanent
75'* Anniversary of Crane Co.
It was the 4th of July, 1855. In a modest frame struc- ucts that serve mankind throughout the world. • •
ture at Canal and Fulton Streets, Chicago, R.T. Crane They serve in city homes, humble as well as preten*
drew from the fire a crucible of molten brass and tious, freeing families from the evils of insanitation,
, poured his first castings. Humble in origin, a busi- from kitchen drudgery, from winter’s chill... They
ness was born destined to greatness by the resolu- serve in rural communities, releasing farmers and
tion of the founder, a creed of powerful simplicity: their wives from the and laborimposed
* / am resolved to conduct my business in the strictest honesty lack of running water ...
toward employees ; and to put my whole mind on the business.” waives and piping for carrying and controlling oil*
_ • gas, air, steam, and water.
By this resolution, steadfastly adhered to, the little
itructure has expanded into factories that now The Crane crecd has been the ins P irati °n for this
cover 375 acres and into branches and sales offices Service ‘ l( has been **“ touchstone *7 which every
in 196 dries of United States and foreign lands. subse S uent Crane P olic y has been tested; the secret
' of the trust evoked among engineers, architects,
The shadow of the founder, R. T. Crane, has contractors, and home owners, for every product
lengthened into a globc-girdling institution with t h at bears the Crane name,
more than 20,000 employees.
Yet whatever progress has been made is accounted
The first simple castings poured seventy-five years only a beginning of a greater growth, a deeper
ago have grow n into more than 33,000 Crane prod- engineering research, a broader service to mankind,
CR AN E
CRANE CO. t GENERAL OFFICES! 836 SOUTH MICHIGAN AVENUE, CHICAGO
WASHINGTON BRANCH: 1225 EYE STREET N.W.
Branches and Sales Offices in One Hundred and Cities
l r
disability, 818 per month; 78 per
centum permanent disability. $24 per
month; total permanent disability, S4O
per month. No disability allowance
payable under this paragraph shall
commence prior to the date of the
passage of-this amendatory act or the
date of application therefor, and such
application shall be in such form as
the director may prescribe."
It takes into consideration service,
need and disability. It does not seem
fair that people who are making but
little money should be compelled to
pay a pension to individuals of war
service who have great wealth when
such disability was not secured in the
service, and a provision was inserted
in this measure providing that pay
ments should only be made to those
who do not pay income taxes. A mar
ried man with a net Income of less
than $3,500 a year will receive it. A
single man with a net Income of less
than $1,500 a year is entitled to It.
No soldier should be compelled to make
a pauper's oath, and no ex-service
man will be compelled to make it
under the * provisions of this measure.
Under this measure the time is ex
tended for one year for the commence
ment of actions under the war risk
act. Many people do not realize that
w T ar risk Insurance was to a great ex
tent a gift by the Government. The
proof of this is that that insurance will
cost the Government a billion dollars.
Some time further liability under this
law must cease, but it was only fair
and Just for us to extend the time for
another year, so that every ex-service
person will have an opportunity to
make claim for this insurance.
Recognizes Difference in Disability.
During all these years since the
World War while legislating by pre
sumption we have in some degree lost
sight of the men who actually fought,
actually suffered and actually were
wounded. No one can any that a man
who was on the front linea In France,
who laid in the dug-out* and trenches,
went through the barrages and faced
the machine guns, and then actually
lost his limbs, did not suffer more than
the man who enlisted after the World
War. after the days of the Armistice.
This bill for the first time recognizes
the difference in suffering and dis
ability and provides that any man who
lost one or more feet or hands in
the active service in line of duty be
tween April «. 1917, and November 11,
1918, shall be paid 125 per month in
addition to all other compensation
which he may receive under existing
law. In all, the measure has 25 sec
tions; every one of them give* some
thing to the service men; no part of it
takes anything away from them. When
it is known that the President stood
firmly against an unjust, discriminatory
measure that gave preferences and
great benefits to some groups and gave
nothing to other groups equally dis
abled, and stood firmly for a measure
that would give something to every
man disabled to a degree of 25 per cent
or more, his action wHI receive uni
versal approbation.
Its passage was from the beginning
advocated by the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and its commander, Hezekiah N.
DufT. He is a Spanish War veteran
and a World War veteran.
He knows that this bill gives more
than the Span sh War veteran was
given for 22 years after the Spanish-
American War, and that Spanish War
veterans did not receive the hospitali
zation given World War veterans on
their return from the Spanish-Ameri
can War.
In its final stages it was indorsed by
the American Legion by its com
mander, O. L. Bodenhamer. who recog
nized the fact that it treated every one
alike and gave substantial benefit* to
all seriously disabled service men.
So far as I know, it has not been
opposed by any veterans’ organisation.
When the debate Is all over no man
who advocated It will be ashamed of
his action.
He will know that he did not advo
cate a statute that was discriminatory
against one group of veterans and gave
preference to another and. In my Judg
ment. as its provisions are more and i
more known. It will be approved by the
American public.
WILL OF ADMR. HARRIS
IS FILED FOR PROBATE
$9,000 and Household Effects Go
to Alice E. Bimonton—Nieces
Are Given Cash.
The will of Uriah Rose Harris, rear
admiral United States Navy, retired,
who died June 30. has been filed for
probate. He leaves $9,000 and certain
household effects to Alice E. Slmonton
“in appreciation of her care and atten
tion to me and of my love and affec
tion." Pauline A. Harris, a niece. Is
given $3,000. and Alma E. Harris, i
another niece. $3,000. Jewelry and cer
tain personal effects are given to a
brother, William J. Harris.
The remaining estate. Including prop- j
erty from the estate of his wife, is to;
be divided into two parts—one to be
distributed among the children of his
brothers, Thomas S. and William J
Harris, and the other held in trust by
the Union Trust Co. for the benefit of
the brother. William J. Harris, for life. :
On his death his share is to go to the
nieces of the testator. The Union Trust j
Co. is also named as executor.
BANKER’S ACCOUNTS
FOUND $35,000 SHORT
Discovery Is Hade After Verdict
of Accidental Death Ii
Returned.
I By the Associated Free*.
_ ST. LOUIS. July 4 —President J. H
Schaedler of the Clayton National Bank
announced lata yesterday a ISS.OOO
shortage had been discovered In the
j bank accounts of Harry V. 8. Grover,
i 55. president of the Bt. Louis County
Automobile Co. and former big game
hunter, who Wednesday shot himself
; to death, supposedly accidentally.
Directors of the bank at a special
; meeting last night pledged themselves
to cover the amount or the shortage
Schaedler said it was dlscoveded Grover
had deposited as collateral in his own
account $35 000 of automobile notes and
, mortgages, of which duplicates and. In
some cases, triplicates had been pre
sented at other banks and finance
; companies. A check is being made at
four other St. Louts County banks with
which Grover dealt
A coroner's verdict of accident was
! returned Wednesday night In Orover's
j death.
Claims Low ’Chute Record.
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan, July 4
/P).—Charles Collins of Aurora. 111.
claims a new world's record for a low
parachute drop. He made a successful
landing from an altitude of SOO feet
Tuesday at the Saskatoon air meet.
Collins also claimed the previous record
I of 900 feet.