Evening star., 1919-12-17
SERVICE MEN ASK
CONGRESS ACTION
IN THEIR BEHALF
Legislation, Enacted and
Pending, Discussed at In
formal Dinner at Capitol.

Members of Congress. officers of the
American Legion and fifteen crippled
soldiers from Walter Reed Hospital
attended an informal dinner at the
capitol restaurant last night and dis
cussed legislation, enacted and pend
ing. affecting service men. The
wounded soldiers said the morale OF
the disabled and partly disabled men
was very low. due to the lack OF
proper provision for them by the gov
ernment- A statement by National
Commander D'Olier of the American
Legion said existing legislation was
entirely inadequate to care for the
men MANNED by the war.
Need of Immediate Action.
1T is plainly evident to the con-
sentatives," the legion commander
said, that If the disabled service
men and their families and all ex-
service persons in the United States
are to receive just and liberal consid-
Grafton at the hands of the govern
ment, which the people of this coun-
try intended they should receive, I'M
mediate action on the part of Con-
SresS is absolutely necessary.
1T is of vital Importance not only
TO eX-Service persons, especially the
disabled and their families, but also
TO the people of the whole country
that this legislation be enacted with
out delay. Ex-Service men and wom-
en- are not SaIlSneQ Win eNlSllHS reg
iSlation and regulations affecting
their welfare. Only through such
measures as are now recommended
by the American Legion and approved
by the responsible government Off
cials Of the bureaus concerned can
the disabled men and women obtain
adequate treatment and efficient
service.
Deprecates False Economy.
of ,,,I Far-
ences with senator's and representa-
tives in Congress the state command
erS of the American Legion do not
feel that Congress is yet alive to the
necessities of the situation. 1t Will
he most unfortunate to these men and
their families and TO the country at
large if policy of false economy now
toward them is permitted to prevail
at their expense. Serious difficulties
may be avoided later by changes
now.
The principle upon which the leg
islation establishing the bureau OF
war risk insurance and the federal
board for vocational education was
enacted is sound. but existing legis-
1ation and regulations are both un-
just and Inadequate. 1t will also be un-
fortunate if the feeling on the part
of members of Congress created by
past and present ineficiency of gov
ernment bureaus affecting the inter-
est and welfare of ex-service persons
is permitted to stand in the way of
Immediate legislation designed to cor
rect the situation. Unless such leg
impossible for ex-service men to get
the consideration they deserve at the
hands of their government"
Discussion Becomes Heated.
Discussion of the legislation which
the legion is pressing grew heated at
times. but the general feeling al the
dinner was that a better understand
of views. Senator Smoot, chairman OF
the Senate finance committee: pledged
his support to the Sweet DILL Whlcn |
the legion has held to be p much |
needed amendment to the war risk !
act.
\ number of the state officers of the i
legion spoke against Senator Shoots |
proposal to abolish the war risk bI-
reau and distribute its functions |
among other government offices. The !
men from Walter Reed Hospital at |
tended the dinner at the suggestion !
of Commander D'Olier TO give cor
the war risk and vocational educa-
ton laws" They complained they had
been unable TO get acti.n" and salh
they had not received at the hands !
of the government the treatment I"
which they were entitled.
The legion conference yesterday sent |
formal request to Secretary Baker of
the War Department that Allan :. |
Broms. a conscientious objector from i
Enthusiastically released from Fort i
Ieavenworth disciplinary barracks-be !
arrested and compelled to serve the re- I,
mainder of a three-year sentence. In I,
letter TO the Secretary Commander |
D'Olier declared that Broms since his |
release has made utterances notorious |
1y seditiouS." and that the legion felt !
his immediate apprehension was neces- !
Sary. --t
President Extends Greetings.
Through Director Cholmeley-Jones of
the war risk bureau. who invited the
j. gion officials to meet in Washington
this week President Wilson extended
greetings TO the members Of that order
The conference yesterday afternoon
formally thanked the President for his
greeting and expressed the hope for
his complete recovery.
MAY | ask the President wrote. |
"That you be kind enough to convey my
warm greetings TO all who may attend
this conference and express my re-
eret that | must deny myself the pleas
ure of receiving them in person."