Evening star., 1929-12-08

various Government hospitals in the
National Capital will be remembered
this year with Christmas gifts to be
presented by the American Legion and
Legion Auxiliary of the District of Co.
lumbia. Plans were completed last
week and the various posts and units
comprising the department are now
busily engaged in raising the necessary
funds with which to purchase the gifts.
Following out the idea of inquiring of
each Of the veterans what is desired in
the nature of suitable gift, the Legion
naires will comply with the request.
This procedure is being followed rather
than presenting a gift of money or
something which would not be useful to
the recipient. In this way the general
committee felt that by gratifying the
wishes of the veterans that it would
bring greater Christmas cheer and full
NIL a want in many instances. The usual
gifts of candy and smokes will be given
the veterans if desired.
There are 200 veterans in the vari-
Gus hospitals and every one will be yis-
lted this year. The various posts are
being requested to contribute to this
program and approximately $1,000 is
to be raised for this purpose. AS soon
rs this amount is raised national head
quarters OF the American Legion AuXil-
lary mas promised to match this or
Whatever amount is raised locally.
dept. Comdr. L. E. Atkins. who is gen
eraI chairman, has appointed four mem
oers OF the Ameriacn Legion Auxiliary
OF TINS city to take charge of the hos
P!Cdl WoTK. Ihe various American Le-
zion posts OF this department have been
divided into four groups with an auxiI-
1ary member as chairman.
AT the conclusion of a conference of
members OF the Legion and auxiliary a
lew Gays ago Department Condr At
klnS announced the following assign
ments OF the American Legion posts
Sn0 cnalrmen of the various groups:
Naval Hospital group-Mrs Ada "
Murray chairman; Costello Unit coS.
Ceilo Post, Belleau Wood Post I,afav-
ette Post, Quentin Roosevelt Post and
Tank Corps Post. "'-"
waiter Reed Hospital group-Mrs
toward 5. Fisk, chairman; Henry @
Spengler Unit, Sergt. Jasper Unit
SameS Reese Europe Post, Henry G.
oaI- 81 OoI, oeIgC. Jasper Post, Lin
com Post and I'd Division Post
st; Elizabeth Hospital prorn-N5rs
EtneI s. Wilt, chairman; Kenneth "A
NaSn Unit, Victory Unit, George wash
!ngton Post, Victory Post, Kenneth n
NaSn Post, Stuart Walcott Post, Coolev-
McCullough Post, Bureau of Engraving
Snd SI PRINTING Post and Edward Douglass
Mount Alto Hospital group-Mrs
Mary Killeen, chairman; GEORGE r
Aileen Unit, James z. Walker Unit.
auguStuS T. Gardner Post. National
1FeS CLUB Post, George E. KilIeen
Fost and James E. Walker Post.
The first legislative objective, accord
ing to John Thomas Taylor, vice chair
man OF the national legislative commit
zee OF the american Legion, is to
seizure the creation of veterans com
Hllttee In the Senate Legislation af-
4ecLIng the disabled has been consid-
eu Dy subcommittee of the Senate
Anance committee, but this method he
says, has not been very satisfactorv and
tne Legion has for years requested the
senate 70 create a veterans commit
zee. large and important legislative
program has been mapped out for the
p[esenC session of Congress and there
much to be accomplished.
Inc Williamson bill for the consoIi-
Gatlon OF the soldiers homes and the
tension Bureau under the Veterans
6ufeau VIII be pushed at the present
session, and is one of the major meas.
ureS on the legislative program of the
legion The special commission an
PonICeo py PRESIDENT Hoover last Spring
Sunmltteo Its report to the President
last month. and the report is said tn
oe favorable to the consolidation idea
The members of the Commission ore
secretary OF the Interior Wilbur. Wal
Ter Newton, administrative assistant
TO the President: Director Frank r
Hines OF the Veterans Bureau and
is. Lsut. Col. campbell Hodges, military
aide TO the President.
The legislative committee has pre-
pared an omnibus bill containing -
amendments to the World War vet
Grams act, as advocated in the major
LegIsIatlve program OF the national
Legion. 41
The Louisville convention adopted 103
[esoIutlons calling for legislation bv
congress, and at the recent meeting of
tne national executive committee at IN
0lanapolis, Ind, the committee adonted
major legislative program to consist
OF 81 OF the Louisville resolutions. These
included the creation of a separate vet
erans committee in the Senate con-
Pension Bureau under the Veterans
Bureau, creation of a medical corps in
tne veterans Bureau. IL amendments TO
tne World War veterans act. a flag IN
cover the coffin of every deceased vet
eran, "A resolutions for increased hos
plta! beds, restriction of passports. four
resolutions on military affairs, increas-
ing the United States Naval Reserve
preservation of the U. S. S, Olymnic
the flagship Of Admiral George Dewey
In the battle of Manila Bay; universal
draft legislation.
According to Department Comdr. l.,
E htklnS program for CARRYING on
regular and systematic SURVEYS of all
hospitals wherein disabled veterans of
the World War are undergoing treat
ment is being worked out by Watson
b. Miller, chairman of the national re-
habllitation committee in this city The
work will be done by the field secre-
tarles OF the committee under the di-
rectlon OF the local Office. These visits
Will not be looked upon as inspections
or Investigations, but will be carried out
with the consent and cooperation Of
the of1lcials in charge Of the various in
Stitutions.
The hospitals to be included in the
plan are those under the control of
the United States Veterans Bureau.
Army, Navy. Public Health Service and
the National Home for Disabled Volun-
teer Soldiers and a number of State.
county and private hospitals where
large groups Of veterans are being
cared for.
National headquarters of the Amer
lean Legion at Indianapolis, Ind, has
advised the local officials that the De-
partment of the District of Columbia is
in thirty-second place in the member
ship enrolment campaiRn. with the De-