Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-21

many Of whom are favoring action to
put the Legion on record as favoring
immediate payment at face value Of
veterans bonus certificates. o,Neil re-
itsrated his previous statements that
any prediction as to what the Legion
may do about the bonus is guess
work" but declared that the Legion
mas always been fair and reasonable
In every program presented to the
American people," and asserted that he
Is satisfied the organization will be
fair and reasonable in the future"
Fayors Lower Interest.
The report. however, favored a stand
oy the Legion for lower interest rates
On bonus loans than the present AZ
per cent. and declared that the state
ment that the loans made in the cer-
ttficates last Winter placed an "addi-
;ional financial burden on the taxpay-
srs" is mot true" The Government,
ne said, financed the loans at less than
The interest received. II It develops
that any new ''liberalizing" Of the
bonus law would ''be detrimental to our
country's welfare or place an unfair
burden on our fellow citizens" the
commander said. he IS confident such
liberalization viii not be approved by
O'Neil opposed any legislation which
might stop payments or curtail privi-
eges to which World War veterans are
now entitled by law" He particularly
opposed "a general needs or psuper
clause in connection with payments
for death or disability"
Recommendation Made.
Several legislative recommendations
were made In the report. These in
Guided:
Extension of the disability privileges
to all chronic constitutional diseases
which developed on or before January 1,
1925.
Relief for widows and orphans of
World War veterans along the lines Of
what extended to those Of veterans Of
other wars.
Organization of a veterans commit
tee in the United States Senate, where
veterans legislation now Is handled by
the Finance Committee.
Reposing in the Department Of jus
tice full authority and necessary
funds" to deal with the problem pre-
sented by Communistic activities.
Another section of the report deals
with the Legion's unemployment work
and estimates that approximately 200,-
600 men obtained employment through
the organizations activities.
THE unemployment situation the
commander said, presents an emer-
gency comparable to that of 1917, and
our membership will function again.
Work must be found for those
who aye ready and willing to work-to
save Them from the stigma of pauper-
ism and the dole and to save our Gov
eminent from the menace of the rack
ptper and the Communist -
Parade to Be Tomorrow.
As delegates started their business
sessions they had before them numer-
Gus resolutions on controversial sub
jectS, including the veterans bonus and
prohibition. These resolutions were in
the hands Of committees, which win re-
port to the convention Wednesday. The
only offlcial action so far consisted
Of the suggestion of the Committee on
Assignment of Resolutions that imme-
date payment of bonus certificates be
diSapproved and that the Resolutions
Committee withhold sanction Of pro-
hibition modification.
The Rules Committee proposed in a
report ready for delivery today that
debate on all questions be limited to two
hours and that each speaker be limited
to i've minutes.
1ne parade, IN WHICH every State and
numerous foreign countries will be
represented, will be the big, feature
tomorrow, and there will be no business
sessions. Controversial issues will occupy
the convention Wednesday and Thurs
day, the final days. Election OF officers
comes Thursday. VITA. at least eight
active candidates in the field for the
commandership.
Governor Welcomes Legion.
While awaiting the arrival of the
President, the Legion members heard
four addresses of welcome on behalf OF
the State of Michigan and the city
Gov. Wilbur M. Brucker, Mayor Frank
Murphy, Frank Mitchell, secretary OF
the convention corporation, and Leslie
Kefgen, Bay City, State Legion COM
mander, delivered the greetings.
The response on behalf Of the Legion
was made by Judge George T. McDer-
mott, United States Circuit Court of
Appeals, Topeka, Kans.
Mayor Anton Cermak of Chicago ex-
tended an invitation to the Legion to
meet in his city in 1898, He was in
troduced by Comdr. O'Neill.