Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-12-15
LEGION OFFICERS
HERE TO AID MEMS
INSURANCE AFFAIRS
Will Confer With War Risk
Officials Concerning Needed
Legislation.

state ana national officers of the
American Legion met in Washington
today for a three-day conference with
officials of the bureau of war risk in
surance, to discuss the duty of the
government in dealing with more
than 100000 men and women who
served their country in the war with
Germany, and to press pending legs
lation in behalf of those who Gerry
government insurance.
Delegates Welcomed.
The conference opened at the Ar
lington building. where the delegates
were welcomed by Secretary Glass of
the Treasury>Departme Director r.
q. Cholmeley-Jones of the bureau Of
var risk insurance and National
Commander Franklin D'Olier of the
American Legion. More than fifty
were in attendance when the confer
ence was called to order, and others
arrived later in the day
The legion officers will be the guests
of a number of members of Congress
at the Capitol restaurant tomorrow
night, and Wednesday afternoon they
will be entertained at luncheon by the
local officials Of the order. The final
feature on the program here will be a
grand legion rally at Liberty Hut
Wednesday evening.
Mr.. Glass Discusses Task.
We want you to see for yourselves
something of the tremendous task that
has been undertaken through the bu-
reau of war risk insurance for those
who went across the sea and for
at home" said Secretary Glass THE
task undertaken has not, perhaps,
been as completely performed as you
or I might well WISH but 1 am quite
sure that after having observation of
the various branches of this bureau
you will be willing to concede that
earnestly done, and that any omission
that may have occurred has been
practically unavoidable. 1t was a new
and unique enterprise of government.
There were no beaten paths, no usages
or rules for our guidance. 1t was an
worked have worked faithfully. if not
always intelligently, and a yery
serious. sincere effort always has been
made to serve you men who SO gal
lantly served your country
I'VE want you here for your init
mate observation, with the hope that
suggestions may occur to you and
that you may frankly give us your
opinions and your judgment of what
has been done. of what is being done
and of what you think may be done
We especially would be obliged to YOU
for any suggestions as to necessary
legislation to perfect the system we
now have in operation"
Commander D'Olier Takes Chair.
Director Cholmeley-Jones called the
conference to order and later sur
rendered the gavel to Commander
D'Olier. The director urged the legion
officers to express their judgment of
the bureau as emphatically as they
chose.
In taking charge of the conference
Commander D'Olier said it was par
ticularly fitting that the first large
of the legion should be held in Wash
ington for the purpose of improving
in every possible way the service
rendered all ex-service men, especial
ly those who had been disabled
The morning and afternoon TODAY
was given over wholly to the discus
sion Of pending legislation, particu-
larly the Sweet bill and the WATSON
bill both of which have been offici-
ally Endorsed by the legion. Several
various delegates, but none was
deemed of sufficient importance to
warrant any changes in the measures
as they now stand. Sixteen disabled
men from waiter Reed Hospital will
meet with the delegates in the oak
room of the Raleigh Hotel this even
ing to discuss the war risk act as
affecting their cases.
Bills Described
The Sweet bill. which has passed
the House anu is now pending in the
Senate. provides increased compensa-
ton for disabled men; extends the
classes of persons to whom insurance.
may be payable. including the in
sured's estate; provides payment of
insurance in a lump sum, or install
ments covering three years or more
at the option of the insured
The WATSON bill would give the
war risk bureau authority to estab-
lish fourteen regional Offices to ad-
vertise in newspapers and periodicals
to acquaint former service men of
their rights under the war risk act.
to receive payments of premiums
through post offices. and would APP
propriate S2.000.00O for such purposes
J. T Taylor of the national legis-
lative committee of the American
Legion reviewed the foregoing meas
ures before the conference and
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