Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-06

4 y
resolution that 1.-The American Legion
does not expect the next Congress to
enact additional legislation for veterans
| relief"
Ernest Lee Jahncke, Assistant Sec
| rotary of the Navy, on speaking tour in
| the West, stirred a storm Of controversy
| over his repeated warnings to veterans
| to go slow in time like this. Rear
| Admiral William A. Moffett chief of
| the Nays Bureau OF Aeronautics, got
| no further with a New Jersey speech
charging the American Legion with
selfishness in using It's influence for
bonus legislation.
Reports received by administration
leaders are that the bonus sentiment
has gained ground in recent weeks de-
spite the resistance from the admins
tration and business circles Bonus ad-
vocates in the veterans organization
have utilized their spare time build
ing up their organization. The men,
berships Of the three principal veter-
ans organizations have grown during
the depression. For the first time in
its history the American Legion mem
bership has gone beyond the 100000
mark. The Women's Auxiliary of that
organization has 100000 members.
The membership of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars has jumped 20 per cent
in the last year and indications are
that the Disabled American Veterans
have had corresponding increase.
The depression appears to have sent
thousands of unemployed veterans to
those organizations as a rallying point.
But, as reported a month ago In the
New York Herald-Tribune, an admin
istration check through Legion leaders
indicates that no more than a third
OF the bonus loan money has gone to
unemployed veterans: that two-thirds
OF the beneficiaries were employed.
More Alert This Winter.
The membership of Congress, always
quick to listen when calls came from
the veterans organizations, is expected
to be more alert in their behalf this
Winter. 1t has been estimated by some
members of Congress that the veterans
organizations, plus their family con-
nections, represent about 2,000,0 900 votes.
Since the organization of civilian" OPP
position to the bonus is nowhere near
so intensive as that Of veterans for the
bonus, members Of Congress facing
dangerously close fights to hold their
seats next year are, in most instances,
unwilling to ignore the veterans de-
mands.
The demands Of the veterans this
year, however, will not be limited to
the mere cashing of the bonus certif-
Gates. which would not normally come
due for payment until 1915.
The disabled American veterans,
meeting in convention recently drew
up legislative program containing so
points, foremost among which was the
calling for the immediate payment OF
the bonus, but including also demands
for reduction of interest charges on
bonus loans, additional hospital facili-
ties, permanent medical corps in the
veterans administration, less interest on
loans on reinstated insurance policies,
resumption of permanent and total
ratings after a given period OF tenn
porary total ratings, an increase OF $25
of the monthly allowance for attendants
of badly manned men, pensions for
widows and orphans of all deceased vet
Grams, dependency allowances for men
of permanent ratings, the elimination
in existing legislation OF. all clauses re-
quiring proof of need that home
treatment with maintenance allowance
be provided for certain classes, that the
scale of disability allowance be increased
and that the veterans administration
be compelled to rule on insurance
claims within six weeks or have a court
order issue.