Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-01-28
DISABLED OFFICERS
.CANVASSCONCRESS
Men Who Were Not in Regular
Army Ask Passage of ;
''' Stevenson Bill.

One hundred diSa bled Army officers.
| many of them on crutches. others who
had not been out of sick beds before.
car vasSed the House of Representa-
tives yesterday as the representa- tiVes
of LOO disabled non Regular Army Of
ficers throughout the country. with a
petition for the support of the steven
son bill.
The Stevenson bill provides that any
officer. National Guard. National Army
or otherwise, who has served with the
military forces of the United States
during the war with Germany. ana
who does not belong to the Regular
Army, but has incurred disabilities
while in service. shall be entitled to
the same compensation as like officers
of the Regular Army receive on being
retired for an equal disability.
The bill was prepared following the
approval by the Secretary of War of
the judge advocate generals decision
of December 10 last. TO the effect that
the commissions of the disabled emer-
genCy officers will end Immediately
upon termination of the war emer-
gency.
This would throw the, non Regular
Army officers, who had incurred
, wounds in action upon the provisions
! made by the federal board fog Voca-
tional education. with an average COM
pensation of $50 per month. accord ing
! to the representatives of the disabled
officers.
Many Have Families.
1t is claimed that the majority of
these non Regular officers are men
with families barely able to make ends
meet at the present time. who would
find il impossible to support a family
upon the cessation of the Army pay
and the throw-back on the vocational
board. where they would have to
study.
The officers. who visited the room
of every representative yesterday.
wer from Walter Reed Hospital.
from the Denver General Army Hos
pital. from the Oteen. N. c.. Tuber-
cular Army Hospital and from the
General Army Hospital at Fort Nc
Henry.
In presenting the case of the dis
ahled non-Regular Army officers it
was pointed out that these will not be
retired on three-fourths pay, but
discharged from the service at the
termination of the emergency, as set
forth in the decision of the judge ad
vocate general Discrimination is
charged.
A printed appeal was submitted
with the following case cited:
Temporary officer Col. A. an old
National Guard officer, age ffty-five;
married and family. Loss of one leg
and skull injury: she'll wound. Not
eligible for retirement. Probable
compensation. $50 per month
AS opposed to this the following
case was given:
Regular officer. Lieut.. B., age
twenty-four: single. Broken bones in
lower leg resulting in stiffness, re-
suit of accident. Has been retired and
receives s125 per month.
Another pair of cases in the appeal.
| fortyfve: married: twenty years
service in Regular Army; loss of
right arm at shoulder: right leg
severely injured and atrophied. Not
eligible for retirement;
Lieut.. D., provisional regular Off
Ger: age twenty-siX: single; nerve
and tendon injury to right hand,
will be retired"
Said to Have Legion Support.
The bill is said to have the support of
the American Legion.
Regarding the substitutes offered to
counteract the discrimination it was
declared that the war risk insurance
does not provide for non Regular
Army officers in lieu of retirement.
Regarding the Sweet bill the petition
said:
This is merely a compensation which
grants disabled soldiers. a certain per-
! centage Of $50 per month, governed by
the finding of a board who decide what
disability the soldier has suffered. In
practically no case does a disabled SOL
der draw more than $50 per month I'M
der this BILL Practically the only ex-
cept1On Is Wnen the SOlQler is totally
disabled. This bill will not apply to
temporary officers if the Stevenson bill
is passed"
Regarding the vocational training it
was declared:
Vocational training does not and
cannot take the place of retirement.
for the reason that many officers are of
an age or have suffered such disability
| that they cannot take it up. In cases
where it does apply it is offset by the
| fact that the retired Regular Army Off
Ger is also entitled to the benefits of
J this provision
| The petition refers to the following:
THE Navy retres its disabled reserve
officers.
| 1.-The Marine Corps retires it's dis
abled temporary officers.
+; 1.-THE Army retires it's disabled regu-
| lar and provisional officers.
/ The National Army. reserve and Ma
| tional Guard officers of the Army are
4 left ont in the could Is this fairo''