The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-09-26
lgAs AINcToN. B. q. Sept 2;

AgAsHlN GToN. D. o. Sept. 25i- a
bill 70 authorize the retirement Of en- /
legislation rs striking phase Is that
8 measure proposed In the Senate BY
Senator Davis Eikins, II Is something
new in the line Of protective pens on
II proposes to take into consideration
The iong years Of enlisted service OF
mcr tho sustained disability, and In
listed mn Of tho army, navy and ma
rinc cofps for disability, Is the title OF
officIm recognition Of prior service
Cured discharge by reason Of IT, IN
he war against Germany It gives
and accords due credit for IT, some
thing heretofore not done.
The lIikins bill is a short one, but
10 the point, and II IS, important
enough % be given In full. threads:
BE It enacted by the Senate,
ana House Of Representatives OF
the United States Of America in
Congress assembled. That when
al enlisted man shall have served
five years or more in the army,
navy or marine corps. and shall
have been disabled in line Of duty
70 the extent that he can no long
er efficiently perform the duties
o. his rank or grade, he shall, on
Recommendation of the Surgeon
General Of the army or the Sur
geon General Of the navy (as the
case may beg, be placed upon the
retired list with the full pay and
allowance OF his rank or grade.
Provided That enlisted men
Of the army, navy or marine corps
who, since the Sth day Of April,
1917, have been discharged, after
five years service, for disability
contracted in line of duty, shall
be entitled to all the benefits of
this act, and shall be deemed to
have been placed upon the retired
list with the full pay and allow
ances Of their respective ranks or
grades held at the time Of dis
charge, such pay and allowances
TO begin from date Of discharge"
II this bill becomes a law, 1t will
contribute to the ease and comfort Of
many enlisted men who, after years
Of service, incurred disabilities l.. the
world war which resulted in their dis
charge from the avocat!on they had
chosen, that Of soldering or going to
sea IN the navy. They suddenly found
themselves not only rendered less
efficient by honorable wounds, but out
of q Job, and no thought nor credit
given to the record Of their years SER
vice prior to the war. The Elkins bill
seeks to correct all of that and to ac-
cord these men simple justice at the
hands OF the government they had so
ably served and for which they had
faced death and sustained wounds.
The bill Is one Of several that Sena-
tor Elkins has introduced to safe
glafd the rights Of the soldiers, sail
ofs and marines, and to guarantee
them justice and protective benefits.
Himself veteran OF two wars-Spain
ana Germany-it is natural that he
should take a deep interest in the
problems Of the men who have done
the fighting, and to take an active
part IN seeing to 1t that the govern
ment does its grateful part by them
- looking after their welfare In the
future years.
In q letter to Senator Howard suth-
erlandson the subject of promotion Of
officers in the army, Col. Geo. B, Goetz
states the situation governing that,
which statement Senator Sutherland
today made public for the benefit OF
a large number Of officers from West
Virginia who are striving for higher
commissions.
Promotion in the army" wrote Col.
Goets, rs limited to those cases in
yybisb Il e. eneeif;ceIlv Sbnr,n thst a.