New-York tribune., 1921-05-28
Disabled Officers
Of A. E. r. Charge
Weeks Opposes Aid
Crippled Veterans Plead Be-
fore Senate Committee
for Bill Retiring Them ON
the Same Pay as Army
From, Ths Tribune's Washington Bureoas

rom Iss Irtbuns's " GShiTdeoft Bure1n@
WASHINGTON, May 27.---In hear
ing before the Senate Military Affairs
Committee to-day disabled emergency
officers of the American army in the
World War urged the enactment of the
Bursum bill for retirement OF ali
physically disabled officers under the
same conditions as regular army of
ficers who have incurred physical dis
ability.
A score or more battle-scarred vet
erans OF the A. E. F. appeared at the
| hearing. many of them on crutchers
some of them in uniform with wound
stripes on their sleeves and some with
empty sleeves,
The bill is entitled, "a bill making
eligible for retirement under the same
| conditions as now provided for officers
of the regular army all officers of the
United States Army during the World
War who have incurred physical dis
ability in line of duty"
Captain Victor Heintz, of Cincinnati
formerly a member of the House, who
resigned from Congress to enter the
service and who was shot while on
duty as captain in the 147th In
fantry, had charge of the hearing in
behalf of the veterans. He declared
the emergency officers of the army
those of the National Guard and
| others, had been "shamefully dis
criminated against"
He charged the War DEPARTING mt
with Indifference, as did other wit
nesses
It was brought out that Secretary OF
Wor olaI~s La 4r
opposed to the proposed legislation.
Harry s. Monnell. formerly an officer
of the New York National Guard. as
serted the emergency officers had done
| the bulk of the work in the A. E. F.,
but the only compensation the disabled
emergency officers received was under
the war risk act
"The disabled emergency officer does
not receive living wage" he said.
"He is unable to support his family
though he gladly sacrificed his bust
served his country in the war. r~know
of three disabled emergency officers
! whose families are in actual want"
! First Lieutenant Patrick F. Shea, of
! the 350th Infantry, of Waterbury
| Conn, who was severely wounded in
France and who has had eighteen oper-
atoms and seven blood transfusions
was among the witnesses. He spoke
| briefly for the bill and urged it as a
matter of justice to the disabled emer-
gency officers.
Another witness was Lieutenant
James G. Graham, of Utica, N. Y. He
was of the 10th Infantry. He was
wounded repeatedly, lost an eye, was
shot in the head and in the arm, was
gassed and captured and held prisoner
six months.
Major John R. southan, of Cleveland,
Of the 145th Infantry, twice wounded.
sought to show by figures that Secre-
I tary of War Bakers estimate of the
cost OF such legislation was "ridicu-
lousy erroneous" Mr.. Baker said it
would cost $31,Oo0,000 the first year.
Major Southan said investigation
showed it would cost $3,S24,oo0 at the
peak.
Captain Heintz said that while the
War Department was trying to block
this proposed legislation Assistant
Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt had
sent communication to the House
Committee on Appropriations, asking
that the committee should not overlook
making the necessary appropriation
for retirement of disabled emergency
officers of che Navy and Marina Corps.