The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-08
WAR VETERANS
NOT IN FAVOR OF
COM MISSIONER
Voice Opposition to Senate
Bill 1O9 at Appropriations
Committee Meeting

Ex-soldicr opponents and pro-
ponents of Senate Bill 100. Great
ing the office Of Veterans Service
Commissioner, appeared before the
senate committee on apprOpria-
items last night to discuss the bill
and, after listening to arguments
set forth, the committee deferred
action until later.
Under the terms Of the bill the
commissioners would assist in OBJ
tanning settlement Of claims Of sol
diers for adjusted compensation
insurance, pension and disability
compensation. introduced by Sen
ators Baird. Hamilton and Schlos-
ser, the bill asks an appropriation
of $4,000 1t carries an cmer-
gency clause.
Jack Williams, state adjutant Of
the American Legion, spoke in ia
vor of the measure and argued that
many ex-service men are timid AMI
when they are sent an exhaustive
QUESTIONABLE such as the Neter-
ans Bureau requires to be an
swercd, they cannot give all the
answers.
He declared further that it
would be of great assistance to
have this officer to further claims
of those who were unbalanced men
tally because Of their war service.
Local War Vets Oppose Plan
DR.. j. o. Arnson of Bismarck
read resolution adopted by ex-
service men of Bismarck and vi
cinity at meeting last Sunday,
which opposed the creation Of such
bureau.
The resolution declared the sigh
ers believed that the bill could not
accomplish the purpose intended
any better than the present system
Of district liason officers and tina.
local liason officer, established
in conjunction with the district liza
son men, the Red Cross and the
Veterans Bureau, could represent
these claimants as we'll as a COM
missioner.
A veterans service commission
or operating within the legion
would be Il more satisfactory ar
rangement, the resolution set forth.
1t further declared that lit is the
first duty Of all ex-service mems
organizations to care for the inter
ests of the disabled and not shift
this responsibility upon the taxpay
ers of North Dakota"
Necessity Not Great
The state has already munifi-
Gently rewarded eX-service men
through lone of the most liberal
cash bonuses awarded in the ma :
ton" the resolution says, and adds
stating such an officer exists now
than there was two years or a year
$50.
Neil Nogel spoke in opposition
to the measure as the representa-
tive of the local post of the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars and read a
resolution similar to that adopted
by the eX-service men.
Ted Hoverson Of Fargo, in
charge of the northwestern dis
trict Of the United States Veter
ans Bureau, explained the work
ings of the bureau. William KrolI
of Minneapolis, district liason of
ficer of the American Legion
spoke in favor of the bill and de
clared he saw real need for it
Adjutant General e. A. Erase,
declared that he had been opposed
to the bill "a week ago." but de-
clared himself now in favor Of it
He declared there was a genuine
need for such bill to take care
of the disabled men.
Harrington Speaks
P. G.. Harrington of Bismarck
declared that the passage Of the
bill would be a direct indictment
against the service organizations
of the state He said he believe,
the service men would rather take
care of their own members ant
suggested an assessment on mem
bers of service organizations.
Alfred s. Dale spoke briefly OF
the bill and declared that he fell
it might be we'll to have the com
missioner, if one were decided up
or. located at Bismarck instead O.
at Fargo, as the bill provides, be
cause Of the fact that the adjutan
general has complete records of al
tX-seryice men.
The committee went into execu
ot:ve session after the hearing, bu
finally decided to investigate tn;
matter further before making
decision and therefore postponed
action.