The border vidette., 1930-08-30

lions TO January Z, 1850, ana II
allows period of one year iD
which the dependents of vete
rams may make application for
the benefits of the law in the
event of disappearance of z
years"
Regarding the consolidation
of agencies having to do with
veteran relief, the national com
mander said:
II have often said that the LIE
gion is a conservative and con
structive organization, interest
ed in the welfare of the govern
ment as we'll as in the care of
our disabled. At the Louisville
con vention, resolution was
passed urging the consolidation
Of the Veterans Bureau, the Pen
sion Bureau and the Soldiers
Homes agency into one govern
mental activity. Accordingly,
this desire on the part of the
Legion was made known to the
president and to congress. A
bill was accordingly passed
which places these three veteran
agencies into one new depart
ment, know as Veterans Admin
istTation,' under one admins
trative head. The presideut :
has full authority to reorganize
AMP consolidate the three depart
ments affected, but all laws relat
ing to these various agencies
remain in full force and effect.
THIS is certainly constructive
and conservative piece of legis
lation and will prove great
conomy to the government by
making unnecessary three sepa
rate groups of administration.'s
The national commander told
of the Legion's fight on behalf
of the principle of universal
service in time of war, and said,
in part:
For more than eight years
the Legion has been nrging the
justice aud wisdom of piece Of
legislation by which this princi
pie of universal service in time
of war would be made a part of
fundamental law OF the land.
There were some in America
who were opposed to this princi
pie. There were some who did
not believe that a plan could be
devised by which such princi
Pile could be made operative. In
fairness to those, as we'll as in
fairness to the supporters of
such a principle. The American
Legion insisted that congress
authorize a competent and off
cial commission to study this
principle aud to make recon
mendations as to the plan by
! which such principle can be
made effective.
Accordingly. at the instiga
ton of the Legion, resolution
know as the Reed Vain wright
resolution, and later as the Reed
Shell resolution, was adopted by
the House and Senate and ap
proved by the President. This
resolution creates a commission
composed of four members of
the House, four members of the
Senate and six members of the
Presidents cabinet. Regardless
of the wording of the resolution,
the objective of the Legion has
been accomplished in that the
congress has recognized the i'm
portance of this principle and
has authorized an official com
mission to study the problem
and to make its recommenda
tions. It is the hope of the LIE
gion that this commission will
begin its study at once and give
to the American people the ben.
efits OF its findings upon this
important problem within the
near future"
Some of the outstanding pro.
visions of the recent legislation
for the disable we're reviewed
by Mr.. Bodenhamer. 10 part as
follows:
The one piece of legislation
in which the Legion has been
most vitality interested this year,
was that having to do with the
care of our disabled and their
dependents. This legislation
will benefit probably more than
200, 900 veterans. At the Louis.
Vile convention the Legion
made certain recommendations
with reference to amendments
to the World War Veterans Act.
AS a result of these recommend
ations, together with suggested