Evening Star Newspaper, December 29, 1929, Page 64

Veterans of Great War The American Legion. Meetings This Week. January 2—Jane A. Delano Post, 1337 K street northwest, 8 pm. January 2—Edward Douglas White Post, District Building, 8 p.m. “A afltmfld Christmas gift for the disabled” is the manner in which John ‘Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the national legislative committee, the American Legion, expresses to the entire membership of the world's greatest and largest veteran organization the action of Congress in passing the bill author- izing $15,950,000 to be expended for hos- pital construction. The bill was signed by President Hoover and the message broadcast to members of the American Legion throughout the land in time for Christmas. The final steps in the passage of this much-needed legislation came in the presence of Na- tional Comdr. O. L. Bodenhamer, who had come to the National Capital especially for the purpose of assisting in its final passage. “Never in the history of soldicr legislation,” says Vice Chairman Taylor, “has a measure of such importance been pushed to such a prompt conclusion at the beginning cf a les{sluflc\'e ses- T, 4 sion. ‘ongress o wanted it, the leaders wanted it and the Legion throughout the entire United States assisted in its passage In every possible way. Under the circumstances, the legislative obstacles were cleared as if my magic and within a week’s time the intricate legislative steps were taken.” ‘The accomplishments during that week may be summed up as follows: Organization of the House commit- tee on World War veterans’ legislation. Meeting of this committee and bill ordered reported, with $2,500,000 added to the $11,500,000 which the bill had carried. Amended bill reported to the House by Representative Royal C. Johnson, an of the committee. Bill passed House by unanimous vote without amendment. Hearing before finance committee of the Senate. Finance committee held second meet- ing and ordered bill reported, with $1,- 950,000 more added to it, making $15,- 950,000 altogether. Bill_reported to Senate by Chair- man Reed Smoot. Amended bill passed by Senate with- out a dissenting vote. Senate amendments accepted by the House by unanimous vote. Bill sent White House to Bureau of Budget and Veterans’ Bureau for com- ment before being placed before Presi- dent Hoover for. signature. afll signed by the President and now | & law. “The American Legion is grateful for the prompt passage of this urgently needed relief .measure,” says Vice Chairman Taylor. “The unprecedented speed with which it was enacted was made possible by the splendid assist- ance of the department commanders and adjutants, the past department com- manders, the national executive co mitteemen and other active Legion- naires, whose admirable response to the Tequest of national headquarters was extremely effective. “The national commander and the | national legislative committee are very grateful for the splendid co-operation and teamwork demonstrated by these mn officials, as well as for the ex- it and efficlent work which has done on. the bill by the service men in the House and Senate and other friends in Congress. In the end it was their co-operation and assistance which Tesulted in such rapid ‘enactment of the Rogers hospital bill. The service men and women in Congress batted 1,000 per_cent. “The construction authorized under this bill, as signed by the President, is as follows: Bedford, Mass, 150 beds, $360,000; New York, N. Y., 1,000 beds, ,000; New York City, "51. 58 i $1,050,000 beds, ,000; We ; Camp Custer, $450,000; Utah, 100 ‘est Virginia, 165 beds, phis, Tenn., 50 beds, special improvement fund, Grand total, 4,491 beds, at of $15,950,000.” ational Comdr. Bodenhamer while this city I week visited President Hoover and di e =z = 3 . The program submitted was that recommended by the Louisville convention and specifically indorsed by the national executive committee last month. In his conversation with Presi- dent Hoover National Comdr. Bode: hamer the importance of ad tional hospital construction, the crea- tion of a veterans' committee in the State similar to that in the House, the consolidation of the agencies dealing with veteran affairs under the super- vision of the Veterans’ Bureau and the universal draft bill. The President promised to study the Legion's legisla- tive requests. Department Comdr. L. E. Atkins and Department Membership Chairman Wil- liam E. Spicer have sent out an appeal to the local membership of the Legion urging them to strengthen the organi- zation by the payment of 1930 dues be- fore the close of the present year. They feel that membership in the Legion and service to the disabled veteran go hand in hand, and it is their desire that the membership and service be increased as is being done throughout the country. Greetings have been sent out to every leglonnaire of the department by these two officials for the success of each and every one during the coming year. Veterans in local hositals under the supervision of the United States Veter- ans’ Bureau will be interested in the i]ndl&' auxiliaries, has called a meeting statement of Watson B. Miller of this ¢ity, chairman of the national rehabili- tation committee of the Legion, that tax-free sale of cigarettes to patients in hospitals is one of the things which his committee hopes to bring about in the near future. “At present,” says Chair- man Miller, “World War veteran pa- tients are paying from 5 to 6 cents tax on the average package of cigarettes. Before placing the matter before the Bureau of Internal Revenue accurate will be obtained by the Legion as to how many cigarettes are sold to the patients in the 50 hospitals of the bu- reau this year. If a tax-free permit for this purpose can be obtained it will re- sult in the saving of a great deal of money each year to the hospitalized patient.” Approximately 37,000 Christmas gifts were distributed by the American Legion Auxiliary to disabled World War veterans in Government hospitals, ac- cording to reports received by Mrs. Boyce Picklen, jr., chairman of the auxiliary’s national rehabilitation com- mittee. In addition to the gifts, Christmas entertainments were given in the hos- pitals of the country by auxiliary mem- bers. Plans for a program of expanded metivities by the American Legion Aux- sllary in behalf of the children of dead and disabled Werld War veterans are being “:wmulated by Mrs. Robert L. Hoyal, chairman of the auxiliary na- tiona} child welfare committee. Dur- ing the coming year the auxiliary will -increase i's efforts to restore to every 4 child, left dependent because of the war, the opportunity for a fair start in life lost through the father's sacri- fices, Mrs. Hoyal said. With only a short time remaining before the expiration of the time limit for filing claims for benefits under the World War adjusted compensation act, it is estimated by American Legion rehabilitation officials that there are still approximately 1,000,000 veterans and dependents of veterans who have not submitted claims. The last date is January 2, and according to the Legion it is dcubtful if Congress will and again extend the time. The average value of the certificates to veterans is around $1,000 and in the case of dependents of deceased vet- erans the benefits amount to approxi- mately $350. The certificates are pay- able at the end of 20 years from date of issuance and have loan values from year to year, similar to ordinary in- surance policies. Claims of dependents are settled in cash payments by the Veterans’ Bureau of 10 equal e qual quarterly Second Division Post, No. 28, won one of the Harlan Wood trophies December 20 for increasing its membership. It is maintaining a comfortable lead for the Julius I. Peyser trophy, which is to be awarded January 15. The executive committee, consisting of all post officers and committee chair- men, will hold monthly meetings in ad- dition to the post meetings, according to announcement of Comdr. E. J. Brown. Veterans of Forzign Wars. MEETINGS THIS WEEK. ‘Wednesday — 3 p.m., Overseas Military Band concert at Wal- ter Reed Hospital, under auspi- ces Ladies’ Auxiliaries, V. F. W. Thursday—Equality-Walter Reed Post, Pythian Temple. Earl D. Gregory of 3100 Connecticut avenue, attached to the staff of the American Red Cross at Mount Alto Hos- pital, has been appointed national aide de camp, Medal of Honor Division, for the Veterans of Foreign Wars, by Na- tional Commander-in-Chief Hezekiah P. Duff of Lansing, Mich. Mr. Gregory is a member of Front Line Post, No. 1401, Veterans of Foreign Wars. He holds the Congressional Medal of Honor, French Medaille Militaire, Ital- ian War Cross, French Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star and Montenegrin Bravery Medal. The award of the Congressional Medal of Honor to Gregory is reported in War Department General Order No. 34 of March 7, 1919, “for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and be- yond the call of duty in action with the enemy at Bois de Consenboye, north of Verdun, France, October 8, 1918. With the remark “I will get them,” Sergt. Gregory seized a rifle and a trench mortar shell which he used as a hand grenade, left his detachment of a trench mortar platoon and, advancing ahead of the Infantry, captured a machine gun and three of the enemy. Advancing still farther from the machine gun nest, he captured a 7.5-centimeter mountain howitzer and, entering a dugout behind the German lines, single-handed cap- tured 19 of the enemy.” He enlisted July 14, 1914, for Com- pany E, 2d Infantry, Virginia National Guard, which organization became Com- pany F, 116th Infantry. He reported for Federal service March 26, 1917; was transferred October 4, 1917, to Head- quarters Company, 116th Infantry, sailed for overseas service June 15, 1918; partic- ipated in the engagements at Meuse- Argonne and center sector; was wounded in action October 12, 1918; returned to the United States February 22, 1919, and was honorably discharged April 25, 1919, at Camp Lee, Va., with rank of sergeant, while serving with 9th Com- pany, 3d Battalion, 155th Depot Bri- gade; character excellent. ‘The next meeting of the Council of Administration, Department of the Dis- trict of Columbia, will be held in the board room of the District Building Monday evening, January 6. ‘The joint installation of depart- mental officers will take place in the auditorium of the National Press Club the evening of January 24. The newly elected post officers will be obligated by National Commander-in-Chief Heze- kiah P. Duff. The newly elected officers of the ladies’ auxiliaries will be obli- gated by the national president, Mrs. Bessie Hanken of Revere, Mass. Floyd G. Caskey has been appointed chairman of the committee to arrange consider it desirable to amend the law. T details of the joint installation. Other members of the committee are A. M. Lochwitzky, Fred Kochli, Francis C. Huhn, A. E. Harper, Joseph F. Beattle, George E. Ijams, Herb C. Davis, ‘W. L. Hazard, C. J. Lawless, J. P. Gar- rity, Sigmund Millbrandt, George S. W?n'en, Milton T. Noyes and C. T. olt. The Overseas Military Band, Drum and Bugle Corps will render a band concert at Walter Reed Hospital New Year day at 3 p.m., under the auspices of the various ladies’ auxiliaries in the District of Columbia, and was arranged by Mrs. Lola B. Heise, chief of staff for the District of Columbia, Plans have been started for a joint departmental minstrel and vaudeville show for the benefit of the Overseas Band and Drum Corps fund. It is in charge of a committee headed by Rev. Prancis J. Hurney. It will take place during the last week in January or the first week in February. Front Line Post reporis a change in the personnel of the Council of Aa- ministration. Joseph B. Gardella, out- going post commander, has been elect- ed to the council, vice Frank Topasch, resigned. ‘The ladies’ auxiliaries of the Veterans of Foreign Wars during the Christmas holidays presented cigars, cigarettes, to- bacco, candy and books to the disabled men. Front Line Post made a great visit to Naval Hospital Christmas evening, taking books, cigars, candy, cigarettes, Christmas greeting cards from the commander-in-chief and distributed these favors while a double quartet sang Christmas carols. The evening was climaxed by obligating as a mem- ber of Front Line Post Col. R. O. John- son lr.»( Chicago, a patient at Naval Hos- pital. Mrs. Clay Keene Miller, chairman of the national legislative committee of the of that committee to take place at her home, 3918 Ingomar street, the evening of January 28. The committee members are Ada E. Harrison, national senior vice president, Woodhaven, N. Y.; Mar- garet Armstrong, past national presi- dent, Bellevue, Pa.; Helen M. Shanahan, president, department of Connecticut, Waterbury, Conn.; Georgle Forster, De- troit, Mich. After the committee has been ad- dressed by National President Bessie Hanken, the committee will meet jointly with Capt. Edwin S. Bettelheim, na- tional chairman of the V. F. W. legisla- tive committee, with a view toward co- cperating with Capt. Bettelheim’s com- mittee. Fireworks at Church Arouse. | _Boys who play with fireworks in the | O1d Kilpatrick churchyard at Clyde- | bank, Scotland, on Sunday, have aroused the people. At a meeting of the parish council P. McCucker, the chairman, said the suggestion of such | sacrilege in a sacred place made his | flesh creen. Plans for building a higher wall around the cemetery were con- | sidered as a means of keeping out the | boys, but it was decided to turn the matter over to thc convenor of the cemeteries committee. Meanwhile the boys are continuing their Sunday celebrations. ——— ‘The Republic of Brazil, South Amer- ica, is 40 years old. It ceased to be an empire in November of 1889 by means of a bloodless coup d'etat which was not actually a revolution. HE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 29, 1929—PART FOUR. THE NATIONAL FURNITURE CO R .t 11V © Here’s a Bargain With a Bunny Chair An attractive overstuffed suite covered w Inchudes Settee, Armchair and Bunny-back reversible, spring filled cushions, making it suite. Corner” Group $R.95 Occasional lamp and table. No Money Down chair, bridge shade and end Vanity, Chest of desirable suite in CEDAR CHEST ..... 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