Evening star., 1939-04-16

| UcIlellJS VI Jllt EJIllcI ScIlCy oIllCSTS
Retirement Act to provisional, pro-
bationary, or temporary officers of
the Army, Navy, Marine Corps and
Coast Guard, who served during the
World War. The other bill would
amend the World War Adjusted
Compensation Act to provide the
bonus to this group. Both meas
ures were introduced by Senator
Sheppard, committee chairman. BY
separating the two provisions, the
legislation is in different form than
before.
The Mishou case history was put
into the record of the committee
hearings. Mishou was a former pro-
visional officer, left college after
war was declared and attended the
first officers training camp, where
he took an examination for a pro-
visional commission. He served dur
ing the World War and resigned as
soon as it was possible. in 1919. In
1925 he was issued a certificate I'M
der the provisions of the Adjusted
Compensation Act and accepted the
bonus, to which he had every reason
to believe he was entitled He was
extended loans on this certificate
| in 1926 and subsequent years but
was not advised by the Government
until 1896 that he was not entitled
to the certificate. The Government
demanded return of the money ad-
vanced. He was in no position to
return the money, and so the Gov
ernment sued him for it, A Fed
eral court in Denver, March %, de-
cided in favor Of the Govern
ment and handed down a Judgment
against Mishou for $897 40 together
with interest compounded at ~
per cent to date.
Called Unjust Discrimination.
Blaine B. Wallace. president of
the World War Provisional Offlcers'
Association, in communication
concerning the Mishou case charged
that it constituted 1.-The most unjust
and unfair discrimination against
the Nations defenders in all his
tory"
Additional suits are being filed
| and threatened throughout the Ma
ton against provisional officers who
received bonus certificates. by mis-
take of the Government itself, ac-
cording to Mr.. Wallace.
Surely" he declared, "it is not
the intention thus to penalize the
patriotism and voluntary service of
this fine group of men,"
In a statement issued in reply to
President Roosevelt's pocket veto of
legislation to benefit provisional off,
GERS, passed by previous Congress,
Mr.. Wallace pointed out that there
was distinction between "provi-
sional" and emergency officers
under the law, although he claims
they had similar service.
Difference in Rights.
1T is we'll known" he wrote, that
the emergency officers have been
given rights of retirement and pay
ments under the Adjusted Compen-
sation Act, both of which have been
denied to the provisional officers.
When the World War came to close,
provisional officers, for the most
part, returned to their respective
homes and took up their college and
university work where they had left
off two years before. The history OF
the provisional officer is q matter
Of record and can be verified by the
War Department. The facts clear
ly show that the provisional officer
was an emergency officer during the
World War. He stands, however, in
peculiar position, in that he is not
considered member of the Regular
Army, nor is he considered an emer-
gency officer. Obviously he is en-
titled to the same benefits and
privileges that have been extended
to Regular as well as emergency off,
GERS"
There were 2.257 provisional off,
GERS In the World War, according to
one record. Probably 10 per cent of
these former officers now are dead,
Mr.. Wallace points out. It has been
estimated that approximately 80 per
cent stayed in the Regular Army.
That would leave approximately
1,400 provisional officers without
benefits of retirement and without
benefits under the Adjusted Com
pensation Act.
They have been cast off and for
gotten" charged Mr.. Wallace. 1T
has been estimated that the amount
necessary to pay benefits under the
Adjusted Compensation Act to this
group would be less than $4,000, 900.
The amount necessary for retire.
ment pay, to which a very few of
these officers would be entitled,
would amount to approximately
$4,000 a year"
Other Bills Pending.
Provisions to accomplish purposes
similar to those of the Sheppard
bills in the Senate are pending in a
measure introduced by Representa-
tive Rankin and now before the
House Committee on World War
Veterans Legislation. A bill by
Representative Van Zandt to grant
the bonus to provisional ofacers
also is pending before the Ways
and Means Committee.
Designed to stop the Govern
ment's attempts to recover any i'm
properly paid bonus, a bill by Rep
resentative Guyer of Kansas is be-
fore the House Ways and Means
Committee. It would protect all
veterans" from such attempts to
make them pay back bonus money
advanced because Of erroneous Ger.
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