Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-22

mems Hall, 935 Grant place
northwest, pm.
Members of the American Legion and
American Legion Auxiliary of the De-
partment of the District of Columbia
will spend the remaining days between
now and Christmas day distributing
gifts to the 1900 disabled veterans con-
fined in the various hospitals through
out the National Capital
For several weeks past the members
of the auxiliary have been busily en-
gagged In making "ditty" bags for the
boys and one of these will be presented
to every veteran by Christmas day. In
each bag will be cigarettes, playing
cards, chocolate bars, tooth paste, hand
kerchiefs, pencils, Christmas stocking
and Christmas greeting card from
the two organizations carrying out the
work.
Department Comdr. L. e. Atkins,
chairman of the Christmas committee
representing the two departments, re-
Gently divided the work into four groups,
for the Walter Reed, Mount Alto, Naval
and st. EliZabeth's Hospitals. Dona-
tons were made by the various posts
and units of the two organizations, and
to these sums were added a donation Of
American Legion Auxiliary.
The groups assigned to the hospitals
included the following:
Mount Alto HoSpital-Mrs. Mary Kill
leen, chairman, assisted by the following
units and posts: George E. Killeen unit,
James E. Walker unit, Augustus P.
Gardner Post, National Press Club Post,
George E. Killeen Post and James e.
Walker Post.
Walter Reed Hospital-Mrs. Howard
S. Fisk, chairman, assisted by the fol-
lowing units and posts: Henry c. Spen-
gler unit, Sergt. Jasper unit, James
Reese Europe Post, Henry c. Spengler
Post, Sergt. Jasper Post, Lincoln Post
and End Division Post.
st. Elizabeth's Hospital-Mrs. Ethel
S. Wilt, chairman, assisted by the fol-
lowing units and posts: Kenneth H.
Nash unit, Victory unit, George Wash
ington Post, Victory Post Kenneth E.
Nash Post, Stuart Walcott Post, Cooley
Mccullough Post, Bureau of Engraving
and Printing Post and Edward Douglas
White Post
Naval Hospital-Mrs. Ada " Murray,
chairman; Vincent B. Costello unit,
Vincent B. Costello Post, Belleau Wood
Post, Lafayette Post Quentin Roosevelt
Post and Tank Corps Post.
National Comdr. l.. o. Bodenhamer
in telegram to department headquar-
tiers a few days ago, urged that
every veteran who served in the
World War and who was entitled
to adjusted compensation file applica-
ton before January 2. They are
advised to make application for the
benefits of the adjusted compensation
act on or before that date, as applica-
lions fled after that date will not be
considered by the United States Vet
Grams Bureau. The records at the Vet
Grams Bureau show that thousands of
veterans have failed to file their appli-
cations, as we'll as many dependents
of deceased veterans who are eligible
to the benefits under the law.
Anticipating a tremendous influx of
applications for adjusted compensation
loans Immediately after the first of the
new year, the Veterans Bureau will ac-
cept applications from now on and
make every effort to get them in shape
so that the loan checks may go out
possible moment after January 2. Pos
sibly a million adjusted service certifi-
Gates will acquire new loan values after
that date, and while the bureau does
not wish to encourage veterans in the
further loading of their certificates with
loans, 1t wants to be in a position to
give prompt service to those who do
apply. Inquiry by the national reha-
bilitation committee, of which Watson
B. Miller of this city is chairman, has
disclosed the fact that the Veterans
Bureau has almost unlimited money
available for loan purposes and all of
the regional Offices of the bureau will
be supplied with adequate funds to take
care of the applications coming to them,
The Veterans Bureau estimates that
If Congress passes the amendment to
the World War veterans act granting
service connection for the
chronic constitutional diseases. as rec
by the Louisville National
Convention of the American Legion. it
will cost the bureau about $48,000,000
a year in added compensation to dis
abled veterans, who, up to the present
Ice connection of their disabilities. The
proposed by the Legion
provides that showing of 10 per cent
disability prior to January /, 1925, Of
certain diseases will be sufficient to
permit service connection and warrant
the payment of disability compensation.
This would place these cases on the
same basis for service connection
as is now the case for tuberculosis and
nervous diseases, many thousands of
which have been service connected on
D presumptive basis.
The eleventh conference of the med
cal council of the Veterans Bureau
will be held in this city March 6, and
B, according to an announcement by
DR.. Winthrop Adams, medical director |
The council holds these conferences |
for the purpose of assist |
ng in the formation of the bureaus |
medical policies and its recommends |
ions have resulted in many reforms |
and Improvements in the care and |
treatment of disabled veterans under |
he bureaus Jurisdiction. The council
S composed of nationally recognized |
physicians who have specialized in all |
departments of medicine and surgery,
Who give their services to the bureau
compensation.
In bulletin Just issued by Chairman |
William e. Spicer of the department |
committee he requests mem
,ers of every post to send in dues by |
December 80, in order to win the ma
ional commanders citation. He says
Help your post win the national COM
handlers citation; help your post win
he Harlan Wood trophy; help your
officer to win the |
William E. Spicer trophy; help your
,ost, department and national officers
n getting out of the way their mem
'ership problem, so that their attention
nay be given to other important prob
ems scheduled for the coming year"
One Of the latest trophies to be pre-
ented to the department. is the William
:. Spicer trophy, to be awarded to the
,ost membership officer whose post has
he largest percentage of its 1929 men,
)ership paid up on December 80 and
has on that date 400 or more members.
The national commanders citation
or meritorious service is to be awarded
o the post which has 100 per cent of
is membership paid up on December
Il. This is the last of the national
citations, and in the words
u National Comdr. Bodenhamer. "I