The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-30
ROOM
FORBON|JS
WORK
Bureau Chiefs Want Space
for Additional Personnel
Now Needed

Bureau chiefs in the War and
Navy departments and the Veter-
ans Bureau are negotiating for
several thousands of square feet III
their respective offices to house the
increased personnel needed in the
adjusted compensation sections, it
was learned today.
The departments expect to put
on a large part of their new en-
ployes during the next two weeks,
when experienced workers will be
transferred gradually to bonus
work. The Veterans Bureau. how
ever will keep down its rolls for
about month. when 1t will begin
to act on applications.
The requirements Of the Federal
agencies for efficient administration
of the bonus law has brought out
the fact that there are a large num-
Der of unemployed men and women
particularly women in Washing.
ton. This number will be cores
pondingly swelled next month,
when thousands or high school and
college students will be free for
the summer.
Many Applicants.
The Civil Service Commission,
which some weeks ago announced
that it would hold weekly examin-
atoms for positions as typIst and
typist. stenographer in the Federal
service. has been swamped with
applications and inquiries. A good
ly number of applicants for these
jobs, offered in connection with the
bonus work, have come to the
bonus information bureau of The
Washington Times and The Wash
ington Herald in the Hearst Build.
ing, 1917 H street northwest.
Officials of the various depart
ments entrusted with the operation
of the bonus law expect to meet
tomorrow or on Monday to agree
upon a general Interpretation of
troublesome provisions IN the act.
One Of these questions which
aroused furore in army and navy
circles today, when 1t apparently
was first discovered, dealt with a
provision which specifically pre-.
vented commissioned officers from
drawing any of the bonus money.
This provision, paragraph B OF
section 202 Of the bonus act. states
that no allowance shall be made to
ANY individual holding a perma-
nent or provisinal commission or
permanent or acting warrant in any
Eranch of the military or naval
forces, or while holding such COM
mission or warranty serving under
a temporary commission ir a higher
grade-in each case for the period
OF service under such commission
or warrant or in such higher grade
after the aCcrual of the right to
pay Hereunder"
Contradictory Provisions.
While this provisions seems clear
~ enough to render commissioned
officers ineligible, the preceding
paragraph in the same section, reads
tnat no allowance shall be made
10 any commissioned officer above
the grade of captain in the army or
marine corps, lieutenant in the
navy first lieteuant or first lieuten-
ant or engineers in the coast guard,
or passed assistant surgeon in the
Public Health Service, or having the
pay and allowances II not the rank,
OF any officer superior in rank to
any or such grades-in each case
Aor the period of service as SUCH
10 the minds Of army and navy
OI1lclals Sese provisions seem flat.
~ IN contradiction of each other
ana the question Of which nullifies
the other has arisen.
This is only one of the numerous
problems which the legal division
OF the veterans bureau will seek to
soive. In this case as in all others
the general policy of following out
the intent of Congress instead of
the confusing phraseology of the
act will prevail. It was not the in.
tent OF Congress to bar all world
war officers from the bonus, accord.
ing to an opinion expressed in off.
cial quarters today.