legislation that affects these men are now better informed on the matter than you could have been had you not taken the time to personally investigate and inquire as to the manner in which these men are being treated in the hospitals.

Not only does the Disabled American Veterans record its approval and appreciation of the plan of 1924, but we take this occasion to earnestly suggest to this committee that most serious consideration be given to following the same plan during next summer as the visits will not only bolster up the staff and make Congress better informed, but will bring about a marked stimulation in the morale of these men still undergoing treatment.

Mr. Chairman, we have now come to the matter of an extension of rehabilitation for those whose war disabilities have prevented them from availing themselves of the right to be trained to overcome handicaps in civilian pursuits.

Nearly two years ago Congress passed a law that no man, no matter how badly wounded, could start rehabilitation after June, 1925, and, no matter what his condition might be, no training could be continued after the end of June, 1926.

Looking at this legislation retrospectively, it is believed that it has resulted in speeding up the training of many men and has therefore met the situation that was admittedly troublesome to Congress. This rehabilitation system has already cost sums approaching $1,000,000,000, but, to say that this vast sum represents a complete loss, would indicate lack of knowledge of the whole matter. In all frankness to this committee, Mr. Chairman, I can say that many men have failed to avail themselves of the opportunity to better themselves for the keen competition in ordinary life, but, with equal frankness, I must insist that the achievement of some of our disabled men, resulting from vocational training, in overcoming their respective handicaps, represents one of the most sublime chapters in the whole history of American courage and fortitude.

Practically on the threshold of their respective careers, with an arm, a leg, an eye, or a lung gone, or suffering some other stunning impediment, thousands of these men have shown the same valor in peace as they showed in war, and they are to-day cheerfully facing their problems and meeting successes that are winning for them the admiration of those with whom they come in competition.

To deny those who have never been able to even start training and to therefore represent the worst casualties of the whole war, the same opportunity to rehabilitate themselves as was granted to those who suffered less, would, in the opinion of the Disabled American Veterans, defeat the very purpose of the law. Furthermore, we feel that both from the high ground of principle as well as the lower ground of probable financial cost to the Government, these men whose part in upholding the national defense has kept them from preparing for the battle of the remainder of their lives, should be accorded the privilege of Government assistance in making them as dependable as producing citizens as they proved themselves successful soldiers.

In the proper presentation of these legislative matters it is, of course, necessary for me to see individually many Senators and many Congressmen, as well as appearing before this committee, and in the

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weeks that have passed since the reconvening of this Congress I have failed to find a single Member of either branch who has expressed opposition to this Disabled American Veterans' proposal for an extension of the limitations to give this class of men a chance to make themselves successful in the competition of life.

In addition to the men who have never, wholly as the result of their suffering from service, been able to even start training, there are to-day many in training who are looking forward to the end of next June as one of the most disheartening days of their lives. They entered into their work conscientiously and courageously, determined to reach a certain self-sustaining position, only to find that while in training laws were passed placing an arbitrary date that would end all hope of completing their rehabilitation. In an endeavor to comply with the law, the Veterans' Bureau has modified and otherwise changed many of these courses.

In the same honest spirit with which the Disabled American Veterans asks you to allow rehabilitation for the men who have been prevented from starting training, our organization pleads with you to allow the men now in training to properly finish. You will all recall that when the armistice came and there was still need for millions and billions of dollars to round out the expenses of the war, there appeared from one end of this country to the other posters urging support of the fifth Liberty loan. It was a picture of man digging into his pockets to contribute to the national cause, and the caption was, "Sure we'll finish the job." It is in this spirit that we plead with you for the opportunity for the proper rounding out of training for the men who have started and whose completion has been interfered with or delayed by officially service connected disability.

Is this Congress to allow these men to finish and step out into the civilian march as capable citizens, or is the arbitrary closing date to result in junking of much of the time and money spent on the individual cases up to the end of next June. Before the fifth national convention of the Disabled American Veterans last summer, General Hines said the class of men to whom we have just referred should have a chance to be properly rehabilitated; and, as I have sensed the attitude of Congress, the Disabled American Veterans is to-day looking forward with marked confidence to the liberalization of this feature of the law.

While not coming distinctly within the province of this committee, I desire briefly to discuss these matters of vital importance to the Disabled American Veterans.

In each successive convention city where our organization has gathered for its annual deliberation newspapers have commented upon the spontaneous ovations that have greeted each bill for the adequate national defense; so, with the permission of the chairman, I would like to insert in the record the following national defense resolution which was adopted by the fifth convention last June:

Whereas recent joint maneuvers have indicated that the American defense outpost on the Hawaiian Islands is not sufficiently strong to withstand enemy attack; and

Whereas the Hawaiian Islands constitute the key of the defense of the American west coast: Therefore be it

Resolved, That the Disabled American Veterans, in national convention assembled, at Omaha, in June, 1925, record its whole-hearted support of all legislation to make impregnable our defensive position in the Pacific, including fortification of Pearl Harbor, with adequate bases, air service, and land forces.

Whereas each successve war in which our country has been forced to engage has found the Nation inadequately prepared, thereby causing unnecessary additional loss in men and material; and

Whereas, while we are a peace-loving people, it is reasonable to suppose, based upon the experience of mankind since time immemorial, that war will again come at some uncertain date; and

Whereas the time has now passed when men have been sent to the field to give battle, and war to-day means the mobilization of not only armies but the whole Nation, if a war is to be carried to a successful termination; and Whereas the men who still bear scars of service are in a particular way qualified to discuss war and its real horrors: Therefore be it

Resolved, By the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, in national convention assembled at Omaha, in June, 1925, condemn the pernicious activities of groups prowling around the country attempting to undermine the national conscience by pernicious pacifist propaganda that would Chinafy America and be it further

Resolved, That Congress be urged to maintain thoroughly adequate military and naval establishments sufficient to not only furnish a proper first line of defense, but capable of emergency expansion and the training of the citizens who are to bear arms should America again be threatened: and be it further Resolved, That in the future American capital and labor be conscripted on the same basis as the man power of the Republic was conscripted in 1917 and 1918.

Until this committee has decided upon what should be done with the National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, it is impossible to stress the necessity for more liberal appropriations for the food in these institutions, as that is a matter that more properly comes before the military committee.

While there is lacking in Congress a unanimity of opinion that these homes should be transferred to the Veterans' Bureau en bloc, there is a deep-rooted conviction in many quarters that at least some of these hospitals, where the World War men predominate, should come under the exclusive jurisdiction of the Veterans' Bureau. In these cases, of course, the control of the Veterans' Bureau will serve to provide the same food as is now provided in the bureau hospitals, but you members of this committee with whom it was my privilege to visit some of these homes more than a year ago, will undoubtedly agree with the Disabled American Veterans contentions that there must be more liberal funds available in order that the quality of food served to the sick men in these homes be improved. With the meager amount of money available, it is really a tribute to the excellence of the administration of the homes, compared with the expenditures in other governmental hospitals, what is being done in the way of food, but it is palpably unfair to the disabled soldier to expect contentment and recovery so long as the Government so severely restricts these homes in the amount of money that can be expended for food.

Months ago when it appeared as though there was a strong possibility of the plan to organize a new Federal Department of Education and Welfare being successful, the Disabled American Veterans went formally on record in a strong protest to the President of the United States against any such movement.

The Disabled American Veterans is in favor of any reasonable economy for the Government, but the organization feels that to take

the Veterans' Bureau in its present stage and place it in another agency combining many unrelated activities would not only add to the cost but would result in a return to the harrowing conditions that made the Veterans' Bureau almost synonimous with scandal over a long period. The time may come when good business and fair dealing might prompt the Veterans' Bureau being placed as a part of some general department, but this time has not come and the revival of any such movement will find the organized disabled men of the country fighting desperately to thwart the plan.

At the outset of my remarks, Mr. Chairman, I stated that I would endeavor, as far as consistent with clarity, to limit my statement as I realized the present necessity of getting this legislation over to the Senate as soon as possible.

General Hines's exposition has, on the whole, we feel, been fair and we find the Disabled American Veterans is in substantial agreement with most of what is being said by the representatives of the other two former service organizations.

The history of relief for the war's disabled, since the inception of the old war risk insurance bureau during the war, has demonstrated that this legislation must necessarily be progressive. Each successful Congress, profiting by the actual administration of the laws enacted in previous sessions, has found the desirability of amendments and, this being the condition, it is not claimed that if the bill that is now before you is enacted it will be the last word in legislation for the disabled, but I feel I can state to you without any reservation that if this bill becomes a law it will result in a marked advance in meeting the problem of the disabled.

I thank you.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Kirby, I desire to express the thanks of the committee, and myself personally, to the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, yourself personally, and the present and past commanders of your organization for the valuable assistance that has been given this committee in discussion of this problem. You who have appeared before the committee have been most fair and frank in your statements, and have been distinctly helpful in a study of the entire question.

Mr. KIRBY. I appreciate very much what you say, Mr. Chairman, and I am sure the organization does. We approach this problem with an endeavor to be fair to the men and at the same time protect the Government. It was our privilege last year at our national convention to hear the chairman of this committee, in which he warned the men against radical legislative items, and to show their attitude the men adopted the legislative program, which we do not think is unreasonable.

I certainly appreciate more than I can say not only personally but as an official of our organization the consistent consideration shown me by the committee, and if in any way we have been helpful we are fully repaid.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will stand adjourned until 10 o'clock to-morrow morning, when Watson E. Miller, of the American Legion, will present the legislative viewpoint of that organization. (Thereupon, at 12.05 o'clock p. m., the committee adjourned to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, January 19, 1926, at 10 o'clock a, m.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON WORLD WAR VETERANS' LEGISLATION,

Tuesday, January 19, 1926. The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Royal C. Johnson (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order. We have with us this morning Mr. Watson B. Miller, chairman of the national rehabilitation committee of the American Legion. Mr. Miller has held that position for the past three years and has been before this committee and with this committee in preparing the acts of 1924 and 1925. In the bill which we have under consideration, H. R. 4474, Mr. Miller represents the American Legion and is responsible for carrying out the wishes of his organization, having drafted many of the provisions. Mr. Miller has been of very great assistance to this committee, has been very frank to the committee, and I know we are very glad to have him with us this morning. I will ask him to proceed in his own way and in his own language to discuss the principles of legislation in H. R. 4474.

STATEMENT OF WATSON B. MILLER, CHAIRMAN OF NATIONAL REHABILITATION COMMITTEE OF THE AMERICAN LEGION

Mr. MILLER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I shall attempt to proceed with brevity and will yield to any questions on the part of the chairman or the committee.

The CHAIRMAN. I will say that you will be given plenty of time to discuss every provision, and I would prefer to have you take some considerable time, particularly in the discussion of some of the insurance sections, of which I know you have made a very thorough study. Mr. MILLER. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen, some of my predecessors before this committee have discussed at length the provisions of this suggested legislation, and, therefore, on page 2, line 7, where the suggestion is made that a chaplain be appointed in each of the hospitals, yielding to the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau and to the logic of the situation, the American Legion does not press or ask for further consideration beyond that which the committee desires to accord itself on the matter of appointment of chaplains. As a practical proposition it seems fraught with some difficulties.

Section 2 of the bill seeks to set up a permanent medical service in the Veterans' Bureau. I only desire to say under this head that the American Legion is anxious that Congress authorize a stabilized medical service for the bureau which will increasingly attract and retain physicians of ability. The legislation should provide for permanence in office, depending upon efficient conduct and reasonable provision for retirement as against disability incurred in the service, and I am inclined also to think that the inevitable coming on of inability due to old age or to age should receive consideration, as to retirement. The statute should provide for a regularity of promotion based on service and merit; for added opportunities for research. in the medical service of the bureau, for the payment of costs incidental to the removal of effects upon changes of station, and those