A New Look

The U.S. has long doled out billions of dollars in pensions and bonuses on the theory that it should repay able-bodied veterans, their widows and dependent children for time spent and privations suffered in the armed services in time of war. Last week this theory was examined by a seven-member commission appointed by President Eisenhower and headed by Old Soldier (and onetime Veterans Administrator) Omar Bradley.* The commission's unanimous conclusion: the theory is nonsense and payments to nondisabled veterans gradually should be eliminated.

The Bradley commission showed considerable bravery in tossing its controversial recommendations into the shot and shell of an election year. Indeed, the commission acknowledged the political power of veterans' organizations by noting that existing veterans' programs "have been enacted in response to minority pressures." But more than a year of intensive study had proved to the commission that the old arguments for gifts to nondisabled veterans are outdated, if not phony, today.

Including his free medical care, food, clothing, tax-free allowances, etc., today's serviceman, far from being inflicted with economic hardship, actually has a higher income (about $4,000) than his civilian contemporary (about $3,700), the commission reported. When he returns to civilian life, instead of putting him at a disadvantage, his training gives him an advantage. World War II veterans, for example, are making more money ($3,978 in the 25-34 age category, which includes two-thirds of them) on the outside, are better educated and own at least as many homes as their nonveteran counterparts. As for the "wasted years," a survey found that for every veteran who said he had been hurt by his service, four said they had been helped. Moreover, expanded social security now gives to the entire population (including veterans) what service pensions once gave to veterans alone.

For wartime veterans the commission was strongly in favor of temporary readjustment aids such as those in the G.I. Bill of Rights, and urged that they be given the stature of basic principle. But as for the long pull, it is false to contend that "just because the uniform was worn for a while, the Government owes the former wearer a living. The ordinary losses of time and opportunity while in military service must be regarded as part of the responsibilities of a citizen, and only extreme or extraordinary handicaps should be regarded as creating an obligation on the Government."

*Other members: World War II OSS Director William J. Donovan, former Veterans Administration Medical Director Paul R. Hawley, Standard Oil Co. of California President Theodore S. Petersen, Clarence Adamy, assistant campaign director for the Republican National Committee, Morgan State College (Baltimore) President Martin D. Jenkins and John S. Thompson, vice chairman of the Mutual Benefit Life Insurance Co.

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