Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-23


Tuesday at 7:30 in the board room,
District Building, when william E.
Spicer, chairman of the committee of
the Department of the District of
Columbia, the American Legion, will
outline plans in an effort to increase
the membership in the National Capt.
tai to 5000 members.
National Comdr o. L. Bodenhamer
Is DESTROYS Of having 100000 paid-up
members in the organization by March
/, and he has called on all department
commanders to exert every effort TO
accomplish this end. An intensive cam
paign will be conducted by Chairman
Spicer and the members of his COM
mittee, starting Immediately, and he
feels certain that he will secure the
increased membership sought
The local posts have been divided
into three classes. according to mem
bership, with trophies awarded in each
class. In class /, for the Earl j.
Brown trophy. Sergt. Jasper Post is
leading with So per cent of last years
U. S. s. Jacob Jones Post is second
with so per cent; George Washington,
third. so per cent; Vincent B. Costello,
fourth. IS per cent; August P. Gard
ner, fifth, "a per cent: Victory. sixth,
81 per cent, and James E. Walker
Post, rs per cent.
In class for the L. E. Atkins
trophy, Jane A. Delano Post continues
to hold the lead with a good margin.
with 81 per cent paid up; Bureau of
Engraving and Printing Post, second,
with 70 per cent; Lafayette Post, third,
81 per cent; Second Division, fourth,
Sc per cent; Lincoln Post, fifth, 81 per
cent; Stuart Walcott, sixth, "A per
cent; Kenneth H. Nash Post, seventh,
Al per cent; Henry C. Spengler, eighth,
81 per cent; Quentin Roosevelt Post,
ninth, 81 per cent, and James Reese
Europe, tenth, 80 per cent.
In the third class, for the Mabel F.
Stauh trophy, the National Press Club
Post Is leading, with As per cent;
Cullough, second, with 80
per cent; Stephen P. McGroarty. third,
So per cent: Belleau Wood, fourth, 80
per cent; George z. Killeen, fifth, %
per cent, and Tank Corps, sixth, 10
per cent.
The regular meeting of the depart
msnt executive committee will be held
Thursday night at 8 o'clock in the
board room District Building, with De-
partment Comdr. L. E. Atkins pre-
siding.
A report from national headquarters
of the Disabled Emergency Ofhcers of
the World War shows that on Decem-
Der 81, last, $3.50 disabled officers had
been retired with pay under the re-
tirement act and that 1922 had been
retired without pay, according to Wat
son B. Miller. national rehabilitation
committee chairman. The total num-
Der Of applications for the benefits of
the act were 1901 and the report
expressed the opinion that eventually
over 5000 officers would be retired.
During the discussion in Congress
prior to the enactment of the law the
United States Veterans Bureau eSti-
mated that somewhat over 5000 for
nner officerS would probably qualify for
retirement and that the annual cost
would be about $4,7o0,000. The actual
annual cost now exceeds 100000.
Among those retired with pay are
brigadter generals, 19 colonies, 90 lieu
tenant colonies, 410 majors, 1,496 cap
tains, 1854 first lieutenants and 1882
second lieutenants. The highest rank
ing former naval of1cer retired Is q
captain and in the Marine Corps one
major heads the list.
A large attendance is expected next
wednesday evening at the meeting OF
Henry C. Spengler Auxiliary Unit, NO.
IL. at the Thomas Circle Club, 1925
Massachusetts, avenue, on which occa-
sion past Department Comdr. Julius
/. Peyser, who was elected vice preSi-
dent Of the r. I. D. A. c., will deliver
an address. He will tell OF the work
Of this international organization ana
other incidents in connection with his
trip to the annual convention In Eu-
rope last Summer and Fall.
The next meeting of Stuart Walcott
Post will be held at the winston Ho-
tel, 1I6 First street, February 20, at
$50 pm. Representative John 9.
Schafer of wisconsin will address the
post on the efforts TO enforce the eight
zenith amendment. There will be other
items Of interest to Legionnaires.
Russell Cook has been appointed d.
rector Of the national Americanism
commission Of the American Legion
and will take up his duties March !,
when he will confer with William j.
Cooper, United States Commissioner OF
Education, to map out q campaign OF
close cooperation between the Legion
and the Government IN wipins out
illiteracy. Mr.. Cook succeeds Dan Sow
ers, who resigned.
The annual conference Of the national
rehabilitation committee Of the Ameri-
can Legion here was attended by nearly
$50 ofncials of the Legion and auxiliary
Watson B. Miller chairman Of the COM
mittee, presided. Gen. Frank 7. Hines,
director of the United States Veterans
Bureau, and all of his assistant direc-
tors, appeared before the conference
and spoke on the work and problems OF
the bureau.
The conference refused to indorse the
Rankin bill which, among other things,
would extend the period for presump-
tive service connection to January J.
Representatives Royal c. Johnson and
Edith Nourse Rogers addressed the
conference. The majority OF the ques-
tons considered were medical in char
acter. The conference reiterated the
stand Of the Legion in favor of stable
and permanent medical organization in
the Veterans Bureau. It recorded a
suggestion, however, that If Congress
decided 1t was unwise or impractlcable
10 create such a permanent medical or
sanitation that the medical service OF
the bureau should be turned over to
the United States Public Health Serv-
ice. or to the United States Army Medi-
cal Service.
Several members of the George Wash
ington Post made pilgrimage to Mount
Vernon yesterday and placed a wreath
on the tomb of Gen. George washing
ton, On their return they stopped at
Alexandria and participated in the
parade and other activities in that city
in connection with the anniversary
celebration to commemorate the birth OF
the first President of the United States
At the posts meeting last Tuesday
evening, Col. John Thomas Taylor gave
resume of veteran legislation now
pending before Congress. Col. Taylor Is
vice chairman Of the national Legislative
committee of the American Legion and
speaks with authority on this subject
Past Post Comdr. John Lewis Smith
chairman Of the committee in charge OF
the posts anniversary celebration fol