The weekly Alaska citizen., 1919-08-25
SOLDIERS ASK
 CONGRESS HELP
 IN MANY WAYS

A petition drawn up by the Pri- vate Soldiers and Sailors Legion of America was recently presented in congress with the request that it be printed in the Congressional Record. There being no objection. this was done. This legion is composed of privates who served in the military and naval forces during the war with Germany and it urges, in the peti- tion, that certain legislation be pass. ed to aid the enlisted men. The pc titiOn is of interest, not alone to en- listed men but to all those who are of it was received on the last mail ] and it is given in full:
 To the honorable the Senate and
 House of Representatives of the United States of America in Con- gress assembled:
 Gentlemen: Your petitioners of the Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion of the United States of America, an organization incorporated in March. 1919, under the act of congress of those who served as privates in the military and naval forces of the United States during the world war in the years 1917 to 1919. inclusive, ,, hereby respectfully petition the con. gross of the United States for the en- actment at the earliest possible date of the following legislation. believing as we do that this legislation will not only do a measure of justice to the private soldiers, sailors. ana ma rines of the United States who bore the burdens, hazards, and losses of the war but will promote in the highest degree the welfare and pros- perty of all the people of the United States,
 We respectfully ask:
 First. That congress enact legisla tiion to provide employment on public works for all soldiers, sailors, ma rines, and war workers who are uh- able to secure employment in private business
 Second. To tide over the change from military life to civil life, and as scant measure of justice to the soldiers, sailors, and marines who fought the war to save civilization in 1917 to 1919, we ask that Congress enact Legislation to pay each private soldier, sailor or marine upon his honorable discharge from the service the sum of $500, this payment also to be made to those who were already discharged previous to the passage of this law.
 Third. That as thousands of soldiers were subject to needless hardships and privations by the unjustly heavy fines and penalties imposed on sol diers by incompetent and unfit officers ill courtsmartial for Insignificant, petty infractions of military regula- tions, Congress should at once take necessary action to see that these fines of petty offenses should be promptly repaid to the honorably dis. charged soldiers, sailors, and marines. Legislation should also be enacted to review all court-martial findings, with a view that justice may be done. Fourth. In aid of the foregoing policy for providing work for the un- employed we ask prompt action by Congress to open up for demobilized soldiers, sailors, and marines the Op. pOrtunity to employ their labor on the unused lands and natural re- sources of our country. And we don't want to be confined to swamp lands, cut-over stump lands and desert dreds of millions of idle acres of good agricultural. minreal, and tim Der lands and vacant city lots are none too good for the use of the sol diers who are conceded to have saved civilization at $50 per month, minus large reductions >fOr cOurtmartial fines, insurance, etc. Natures bOun- ty has provided Uncle Sam and all his nephews with ample opportunity for all to work if the government will only let down the bars of monopoly and privilege.
 Fifth. We ask that the burden some and onerous taxes now levied as a war measure on ice cream, soda water, and soft drinks, and those levied by section 9O6 of the revenue act of 1918, approved February, 1919, on the private soldiers and poor mans theatre, known as the film tax, be repealed
 Respectfully submitted,
 MARVIN GATES SHERRY, National President Private Soldiers
 and Sailors Legion of the United