The New York herald., 1921-02-10
.
LEGION AT CAPITAL
URGES BONUS BILL
Executive Committee Criticises
Work Of Government
Bureaus.
ASKS MORE FOR RELIEF
Increase of S12,0O0,000 for
Maintenance. Of Hospitals
Demanded.
ASKS MORE FOR RELIEF

WASHINGTON Feb. 9.-After listening
to criticism of the Government bureaus
dealing with war veterans, the executive
committee of the American Legion to-
day closed three-day meeting here by
going to the Capitol where they :nter-
viewed Members OF Congress concerning
legislation favored by the Legion.
F. W. Galbraith, national commander.
reported after the visit to the legisla-
tive body that he had peen assured by
Senator Penrose Of Pennsylvania. chair
man of the Finance Committee. that
the bonus bill would be reported out
Of committee and in all likelihood would
be passed at this session. Members
OF the Legion Committee also expressed
belief that all measures for the relief
of disabled veterans would be enacted,
including an increase from $4,000, 900
to $4,000, 900 for maintenance of hos
pitfalls provided for in the sundry civil
bill
The criticism Of Government bureaus,
launched by Abel Davis OF Chicago.
chairman OF the legion's disqualification
committee. followed committee report
urging the consolidation Of the War
Risk Insurance Bureau. the Vocational
Education Board and part OF the Pub
lie Health Service. He declared that
the chiefs Of these agencies at present
do not work together. adding that they
resented the activities OF the legion In
attempting to obtain relief for disabled
veterans and had packed" committees
OF the legion with employees Of the
bureaus, who were legion members, In
efforts to handicap the work of the COM
mittees.
AS a result Of his charges tho execu-
tive committee adopted resolution
recommending to State organizations
that no bureau employees be appointed
to legion committees.
Disabled men are being kept In pri-
vate and State hospitals that are 'in-
describably filthy and where conditions
are terrible" Mr.. Davis told the COM
mittee. All hospitals are crowded. he
said. and men often are taken In by
private and State hospitals because they
are disabled service men, and often are
forced to sleep on cots in Railways or
in crowded wards.
The men are handled by three separate
agencies. and often suffer. he said, oy
the resulting delay. The Public Health
Service investigates their cases and puts
them in hospitals. Another agency han
dies the matter Of their compensation
and still another their training. Often
they go to former soldiers homes con-
verted into hospitals. where the ancient
rules that governed old soldiers make n
fourth agency to deal with the men.
No action can be taken on the Legion s
suggestion to the Knights Of Columbus to
pass on the matter. according to infor-
nation received to-day by John q.
Emery, chairman OF the memorial COM
mttcc.
Proposals to bring the body OF an un-
known soldier from France to be In
TERED in Arlington Cemetery were ap-
proved by the committee.
Col. Galbraith declined in heated
words tonight an invitation personally
rendered by Edmund Won Mach. news
paper writer and author OF several pro-
German documents published before this
countrys entry into the war. to speak
at a meeting in New York February 2S
in the interest of a movement to procure
the withdrawal OF all African contin-
gents in the French forces within Ger
man occupied territory.
Seeing In the movement nothing but
q. brazcn attempt to use the American
Legion as n tool In driving an opening
wedge between the American and French
people. L not only rejected the offer, but
when the motive became clear to me,
peremptorly showed Mr.. Won Mach the
door" Col. Gaibraith declared tonight
in relating the conversation in which the
invitation was rendered.