Evening star., 1936-08-15
DISTRICT LEGION
FOR REPEAL Of
MARRIAGE CLAUSE
Civil Service Court of Ap.
peals Also Favored in
Resolutions.
FEDERAL HOSPITAL
FOR WOMEN URGED
U. S. Insurance of Officers and En-.
listed Men of Peace. Time Army
and Navy Proposed.

Immediate repeal Of the marriage
clause Of the economy act, establish |
ment Of a civil service court Of ap-
peals, establishment of Federal hos |
pital for women veterans of the World |
War, Federal insurance for officers |
and enlisted men Of the peace-time |
Army and Navy, and increased PEN
sions for widows and orphans Of dis |
by the District Department of the
American Legion in resolutions
adopted last night at the second ses-
sion of its eighteenth annual con-
vention at the Mayfiower Hotel.
Other resolutions were adopted
urging Federal action to stamp out
communism, the Black Legion and
other terrorist and subversive agencies,
enactment of snti-lynching laws and
to deport illegally admitted aliens.
The convention nominated two op-
posing states of candidates for de-
partmental Offices, presaging q hot
fight in the annual elections, to be
held tonight. The rival tickets are
headed by John O'Connell of Victory
Post and Horace w. Lineberg of
Metropolitan Police Department Post.
A hot battle also Is expected for the
post Of national executive committee
man, for which the convention re-
ceived the nominations Of Joseph j.
Mailoy, retiring department COM
mander. and James O'Connor Roberts,
past commander.
Marriage Clause Resolutions.
The Legionnaires adopted two reso-
lutionS dealing with the marriage
clause. The first urged Congress to
modify section 213 Of the economy act
to permit husbands and wives to re-
main in the Government service un-
less their salaries together exceeded
$4,000 year. The second called for
immediate repeal of the act, which, it
was stated, has brought about the
greatest hardships on those in the
lower salary brackets, while those in
the higher brackets have been per-
mitted to remain in the service" On
motion Of William Franklin of Vim
cents B. Costello Post, the resolution
was amended to include the District
government.
The Legionnaires adopted strongly
worded resolution condemning the
Black Legion and other organizations
which have adopted terrorism,
threats and even murder" to carry out
campaigns subversive of the best in
terests of the country, and called for
a special congressional investigation
of such organizations and activities.
The resolution reiterated the pledge Of
the Legion to support law and order.
Several resolutions were adopted
dealing with communism. One
authorized the creation Of a special
committee Of three to be appointed
by the department commander to
study and report upon communism,
fascism, government by dictatorship
and their relation to American life.
Another declares that communism lis
still a factor in American life" and
expresses the absolute opposition" of
the Legion to "all forms of COM
munism and to all other subversive
influences and all agencies which
disseminate its doctrines"
Deportation legislation.
Passage of legislation similar to the
Starnes- Reynolds bill for deportation
of illegally admitted aliens was adyo-
Gated. Congress also was asked to
pass legislation to curb lynching and
mob violence.
Another resolution urged Federal
provision of insurance for officers and
warrant officers and enlisted men of
the military services in multiples of
$500 from $1,000 to $4,000.
Two resolutions dealing with pen
sionS to widows and orphans were
adopted. One advocates increased
pensions to widows and orphans of
veterans suffering 80 per cent or more
war disability who died as result of
causes other than their war injuries.
The other asks that the law limiting
payments of compensation to the
widow of a veteran who dies of serv-
ice connected disability, where he
married after July 2, 1881, be amended
so as to provide compensation where
there has been issue after the marriage
or where the widow has lived with
the veteran continuously for three
years."
The convention took on the aspect
OF q national political convention
during the nominations of officers.
Band music and cheering enlivened
the long-drawn process. O'Connell
was placed in nomination by Jean
Costello of George E. Killeen Post, who
outlined the nominees service in the
District National Guard, on the
Mexican expedition of 1915, in France
with the 29th Division and in the
Legion.
Lieut.. Lineberg Of the Metropolitan
Police Depal tment was put in nomi-
nation by Donald Smith of Stanley
Church de Pue Post, who praised the
candidates 20 years Of police and
military service and his Legion serv-
Ice, which included q term as senior
vice commander.
Other nominations for departmental
offices were for first vice commander,
John D. Kiley and Ray L. zwinglas;
for second vice commander, J. I. |
Below and Mrs. Helen Lincoln Opitz,
and for third vice commander, Roland
w. Phillips and Henry A. Wrenz.
Nominees for the post Of alternate to
represent the District department on
the National Executive Committee are
Joseph L. Cole and Paul J. McGanan.
Commanders Delegates.
The outgoing and incoming depart
mental commanders will serve as dele
gates to the national convention of
the Legion and in addition the con-
. vention nominated "a other delegates
and rs alternates. Thirteen of each
will be chosen tonight. Bill Franklin
of Costello Post surprised the conven-
ton by placing himself in nomination