Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-29

assisted in its passage in ever
possible way. Under the circumstances
the legislative obstacles were cleared a
If my magic and within a weeks timi
the intricate legislative steps wer,
taken"
The accomplishments during that
week may be summed up as follows:
Organization of the House commit
tee on World War veterans legislation
Meeting Of this committee and bill
ordered reported, with $2,500,000 added
to the $l1,5oo, 900 which the bill hac
carried.
Amended bill reported to the HOUSE
by Representative Royal c. johnson
chairman Of the committee.
Bill passed House by unanimous vott
without amendment.
Hearing before finance committee o.
the Senate.
Finance committee held second meet.
ing and ordered bill reported, with ST.
$4,000 more added to it, making $15,-
$4,000 altogether.
Bill reported to Senate by Chair
man Reed Smoot.
Amended bill passed by Senate with
out dissenting vote.
Senate amendments accepted by the
House by unanimous vote.
Bill sent White House to Bureau OF
Budget and Veterans Bureau for COM
ment before being placed before PreSi-
dent Hoover for. signature.
Bill signed by the President and now
. law. 30.
"The American Legion is grateful for
the prompt passage Of this urgently
needed relief measure says Vice
Chairman Taylor. THE unprecedented
speed with which it was enacted was
made possible by the splendid assist
ance Of the department commanders
and adjutantS, the past department COM
manderS, the national executive COM
mitteemen and other active Legion
naireS, whose admirable response to the
request OF national headquarters was
extremely effective
THE national commander and the
national legislative committee are very
grateful for the splendid cooperation
and teamwork demonstrated by these
Legion officials, as well as for the ex-
cellent and efficient work which has
been done on. the bill by the service
men in the House and Senate and other
friends In Congress. In the end it was
their cooperation and assistance which
resulted In such rapid enactment of the
Rogers hospital bill. The service men
and women in Congress batted 1000
per cent
'"The construction authorized under
this bill, as signed by the President, is
as follows: Bedford, Mass, $50 beds,
$500. 900; New York, N. Y, 1000 beds,
$1,000 900; New York City, 200 beds,
$1,000 600; Western New York State
beds, $500, 900; Alabama, $50 beds, ST.
10000; Gulfport, Miss, 1873 beds, $40,
600; Indiana, $50 beds, $500, 900; North
Chicago, $50 beds, $3.50 900; Knoxville
Iowa, $50 beds, $270, 600: Albuquerque
n. Mex, ESQ beds. 81 ,250.oo0; San Fran
cisco, Calf, 200 beds. $1,000, 900; Tue
son, Ariz., 100 beds, $3.50, COO; Texas
500 beds, $1,000, 900; Camp Custer
Mich, 100 beds, $45o,o00; Utah, iOC
beds, 100000; West Virginia, 1855 beds
100000; Memphis, Tenn, so beds
100000; special improvement fund
81, 100000. Grand total, 4,49I beds. al
total cost Of SIS, ESQ ,OO0.''
National Comdr. Bodenhamer while
In this city last week visited President
hoover and discussed the Legion's legis-
!atlve program for the present session Of
congress. The program submitted was
that recommended by the Louisville
convention and specifically Endorsed by
the national executive committee last
month. In his conversation with Presi-
dent Hoover National Comdr. Boden-
manner stressed the Importance of addi-
tional hospital construction, the crea.
ton OF veterans committee In the
State similar to that in the House. the
consolidation OF the agencies dealing
with veteran affairs under the super.
vision Of the Veterans Bureau and the
universal draft bill. The President
promised to study the Legion's legisla.
tive requests.
Department Comdr. L. E. Atkins anc
Department Membership Chairman vii.
liam E. Spicer have sent out an appea
70 the local membership of the Legior
urging them to strengthen the organi
Zation by the payment OF 1880 dues be
fore the close Of the present year. The!
feel that membership In the Legion anC
service to the disabled veteran go hanC
In hand, and it is their desire that tn,
membership and service be increased a.
Is being done throughout the country
Greetings have been sent out to ever,
legionnaire Of the department by thes
two offlcials for the success Of each anC
every one during the coming year.
Veterans in local HOSPITALS under tn,
supervision of the United States Veter
ans Bureau will be interested in tn
city, chairman Of the national rehabili
tation committee of the Legion, tina
taX-free sale of cigarettes to patients il
hospitals is one of the things which hi
committee hopes to bring about in tn
near future. "At present." says Chair
man Miller, world War veteran pa
tients are paying from to 6 cents ia,
on the average package Of cigarettes
Before placing the matter before tn
Bureau of Internal Revenue accurat
figures will be obtained by the Legion a
to how many cigarettes are sold to tn
patients in the SO hospitals of the bu
reau this year. If a tax-free permit 10
this purpose can be obtained 1t Will re
suit in the saving Of great deal o
money each year to the hoSpitalize'
patient"
Approximately $1,000 Christmas gift
were distributed by the American
Legion Auxiliary to disabled World Wa
veterans in Government hospitals, &C
cording to reports received by Mr.;
Boyce Ficklen, jr, chairman Of tn
auxiliary's national rehabilitation com
mittee.
In addition to the gifts. Christina
entertainments were given in the hos
pitfalls Of the country by auxiliary mem
bers.
Plans for a program of expande
activities by the American Legion Aux
Iliary In behalf of the children G
dead and disabled World War veteran
are being 1sSnIulated by Mrs. Robel
L. Hoyal, chairman of the auxiliary ma
tional child welfare committee. Dur
ing the coming year the auxiliary wi
increase its efforts to restore to ever