The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-05-29
RULINGS To
FAVOR
VETS
Legal Opinion Will Be Put in
Form of Exhaustive
Catechism of Law

seen difficulties in Interpretation
OF the bonus law, the 'arious
Federal administrative agencies
moved today to obtain some
measure of cooperation upon
which to base a common under
standing of the laws provisions.
Interpretations Perplexes.
Interpretation of the law is the
most perplexing problem Of the day
before the War and Navy Depart
ments and the Veterans Bureau, it
was! admitted by representatives of
al Of these branches.
To facilitate the operation of the
measure, Major o. w. Clark, di.
rector Of the adjusted compensation
service OF the Veterans Bureau,
ordered the bureaus legal division
TO prepare an exhaustive catechism,
setting forth In question and
answer form the correct meaning Of
all sections Of the law.
Veterans to Be Favored.
That the catechism viii favor
veterans was indicated by the fol-
lowing statement Of Major Clark
today:
1--WE believe that Congress framed
the law to benefit veterans of the
world war, and the Veterans Blu.
reau will do all in its power to see
that veterans and their dependents
are given everything to which they
are entitled by law"
One Of the principal difficulties
facing the administrators of the
bonus is the difference in status
between members Of the military
and naval forces of the United
States.
This is illustrated by the moot
question Of service in the Island
OF Guam, a possession of the United
States in the Pacific Ocean.
Difference in Terms.
The Navy Department. contends
that the naval forces in Guam dur
ing the war were performing over
sea duty, and consequently are en-
titled to compute their bonus returns
for such service at the oversee
rate of $1.25 day.
The bonus law states, however,
that "the term oversee service
means service on shore in Europe
or Asia, exclusive. Of China, Japan
and the Philippine Islands, and
service afloat, not on receiving
ships"
According to the naval interpreted
ton, service by sailors in Guam is
rated as service afloat, and marines
on duty in the islands are, 1t Is
Contended, on oversee service.
The law mentions the Philippines,
Hawaii and Samoa as places where
scout, guard or constabulary service
constitutes ineligibility for the
bonus. But the Island Of Guam does
not appear in any section Of the
law. The designation "insular force
Of the Navy. might perhaps cover
some service in Guam. This
designation appears in the list of
ineligible service standings.
Beneficiary Provision.
Another matter which must be
clarified by legal opinion is the
provision concerning the naming
, Of a beneficiary to the bonus insur-
ance Of veteran.
The law reads clearly: "The vete-
ran shall name the beneficiary of
his certificate and may from time
to time, with the approval Of the
Director (of the Veterans BureauI.
change such beneficiary"
No restrictions are made, 1t will
be seen as to the relations Of rhe
veterans and the beneficiary. But
the Veterans Bureau, it was learn
ed, proposes to make it impossible
for the ever.ready bonus sharks"
to negotiate with veteran to give
him a small amount Of ready money
for his certificate, on the condition
that he make the shark his
beneficiary.
Probably the most complex prob
lem with which the sSVeterans'
Bureau lawyers are wrcstllag Is the
simple phraseology, Of Seotion 501
Title ", concerning adjusted service
certificates.
The law provides that the Veter.
ans Bureau shall issue to the
veteran, after the prescribed routine.
q non-participating adjusted service
certificate of face value equal to
the amount in dollars of twenty.
year endowment insurance." and
90 on.
Suppose the amount of a Ger.
tificate is $1,505,625? Does the
veteran get the value. Of the certi.
ficate in dollars and cents, or only
$1,505, the amount in dollars?
Would he, by q liberal iriterpreta.
ton, receive $1,505, or $1,5O5. 63--
or would the half.cent be Topped
Off. the certificate value to read
e1,605.62?
While this question may seem of
small Importance. It 10 interesting