New-York tribune., 1921-02-10
penrose Tells
Legior, Bonus
Bill viii Pass
Senator Predicts Measure
Will Be Approved at
This Session, and the
Veterans Hopes Rise
70 Aid Watson Bill, Too
New York Postal Employees
Charge Discrimination ON
Their Return From Army
NJ the American Legion Editor of The
Trihune

sv the American Legion Editor of The
Tribune
WASHINGTON, Feb. s.---The Federal
bonus Ger soldiers probably will be APP
,roved By the United States Senate
bsfcre the present session of Congress
.nds on March 4 This prediction was
w.Se to-day by Senator Boies Penrose
4 Pennsylvania, in q conference with
Frederick ", Galbraith ir., national
commander Of the American Legion,
which has sponsored the bonus meas
nrs ever since II first appeared in the
Eonse, where IL was passed last year.
While Senator Penrose had predicted
The passage Of the bonus once before.
iris is the first time he had expresse d
bis belief that tt would pass during
this session. and his forecast created
much enthusiasm among the national
executive committeeman of the Legion.
who closed q three-day conference here
tc-day. The commander told Of his
conversation with Mr.. Penrosc in an
address 70 the committee this after
noon.
Calls Demands Patriotic.
The commander said that another
bill discussed by Senator Penrose, and
which he pledged himself to support,
was the Watson bill, providing for the
decentralization of tbs Bureau of War
Risk Insurance as a means to caring
more effectively for the disabled vet
srans.
One Of the messages from Senator
Penrose, which pleased the Legionaires
greatly, wss that he considered the
veterans entirely patriotic in their de-
fp- -foA Z.
been contendsd by some OF the critics
Of the Legion that they show little re-
gard for the country's welfare in max
M their demands for beneficial laws
The Senator said ne always had worked
uutiringly for soldier legislation and
would continue to do so. The records
show that Senator Penrose was a spon-
sor OF the first additional compensa-
tor bill ever introduced in behalf of
soldier IN Congress. 1t was a meas
ure providing for an increase of 500
year n the amount Of compensation
awarded tn a soldier who had been
blinded and msimedin the service.
The Federal adjusted compensation
measure is hvs-fold in its provisions
carrying that number of optional
bonuses for the veterans, included in
whieh are cash payments, land grants,
long-term endowment, insurance and
scholarships,
Charges OF unjust discrimination
against veterans in the employ of the
United States Postoffice Department.,
particularly those in the New York
service. were made to-day before the
executive committee of the Am merican
Legion by three ex-service men from
The Dan Talon Post, New York City,
and the committee unanimously sup
ported the demand for an investigation.
Three branches Of the New York Office
we're represented by the veterans from
that city, who were:
Joseph F. Buchanan, of 1853 Deca-
tur Avenue; James J. Flanagan. OF 9O44
Albany Crescent, and Joseph2 Sire litz,
commander Of Dan Talon Post. Briefly,
their grievances were as follows:
Buchanan enlisted after thirty years
N the postoffies as letter carrier
He was fftyfour years old. When he
returned he was made a collector, a
task usually assigned to much younger
men or deInHuents. He has seen sew
eral Younger men. non-veterans, pro-
noted despite his seniority rights, and
now he is a letter carrier at 81 400 9
ear, He works from a. m. to p. m
Other Grievances
Flanagan was a bookkeeper when he
enlisted in October, 1911. He served
with the North Sea Fleet. He returned
IN July /, 1919. as a bookkeeper at 81
SIS A wear, although entitled to S1925
because of length of service After
sixteen months of correspondence with
higher officials, he was given back pay
Of 800 z month from July I, 1919, to
June so. 1920. Three months later he
was notified his salary had been reduced
to $500 on July l, 1920, and had to
return S6.25 IN excess salary on Octo-
her 81 l920.s
Strelitz espoused the cause Of three
ether postofice veterans. who he said.
came back from naval reservists'