This order supersedes Executive Order No. 9446 of June 8, 1944, entitled 'Regulations Governing the Allowance of Travel Expenses of Claimants and Beneficiaries of the Veterans' Administration and of Their Attendants.'

The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may authorize in lieu of actual expenses of travel, including lodging and subsistence, payment of an allowance of 3 cents a mile to any claimant or beneficiary of the Veterans' Administration…

The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may authorize the payment of actual necessary expenses of travel, including lodging and subsistence, of any claimant or beneficiary of the Veterans' Administration traveling under prior authorization…

When any claimant or beneficiary requires an attendant other than an employee of the Veterans' Administration for the performance of such travel, such attendant may be allowed the expenses of travel upon a similar basis.

It would have set no standards or limits to guide the Administrator except the single provision that he could not set rates of pay lower than those prescribed by the Classification Act.

Since I have just approved a bill increasing salaries for persons covered by the Classification Act by $330 per year, the authority granted by this bill should be unnecessary.

I AM withholding my approval from S. 2794, an act 'To authorize the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to prescribe the rates of pay for certain positions at field installations'.

The blind, like other people, want to work and be self-supporting.

The most compelling reason for disapproval of this bill is my firm belief that the unsound principle on which it is based would seriously hinder further progress in the development of a sound and comprehensive social security program.

A thoughtful examination of the bill leads to the conclusion that it not only would endanger the benefit rights of thousands of blind persons presently receiving assistance under title X of the Social Security Act, but would also, in the…

I am withholding approval of H.R. 6818, a bill 'To amend title X of the Social Security Act (relating to aid to the blind) so as to provide greater encouragement of blind recipients thereunder to become self-supporting.'

The capacity of many low-income States to contribute out of their own funds to the support of the blind has already been reached.

This bill is contrary to the most important principle on which our entire public assistance program is based--relief of need.

No public hearings were held and no opportunity was provided the affected government agencies--Federal, State, or local--to express their views.

There is another fundamental objection to this bill.

I have recommended to the Congress that it amend all the public assistance programs in the Social Security Act--the old-age assistance and aid-to, dependent children programs, as well as the aid-to-the-blind programs--so as to make it…

Now, Therefore, I, Harry S. Truman, President of the United States of America and Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy, do hereby proclaim that, as a perpetual symbol of our patriotism, the flag of the United States shall hereafter be…

This order shall become effective on July 1, 1948.