Mrs. FLANERY. I feel the female clerical employees of the Medical Department of the Army who served with the base hospitals in France should be entitled to all the benefits under the World War veterans' act, 1924, and I believe that the best way to do this would be to amend section 3, subsection 9 of the World War veterans' act, 1924, approved June 7, 1924, to include us.

The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever taken up with the Veterans' Bureau the question of your status as far as hospitalization and compensation were concerned?

Mrs. FLANERY. I took that up with the Federal Board of Vocational Education in 1919.

The CHAIRMAN. Has this question ever been presented to the legal department of the bureau, Mr. Roberts?

Mr. J. O. C. ROBERTS. Never to my knowledge. I can say for the benefit of the committee and Mrs. Flanery the Veterans' Bureau is given the right by the terms of its own act to determine who is entitled and who is not entitled, and the fact that the War Department holds a person is not in military service is not binding upon us. As a matter of fact, we have recognized some people who have been held by the War Department not to have been in the military service, for example, certain men in training camps, S. A. T. Č. cases; some of these men were not recognized by the War Department, but having been in military service came under the terms of that under our interpretation. So I would suggest that Mrs. Flanery make application to the Veterans' Bureau and let he case be adjudicated on its own personal merits as contrasted with the general question.

The CHAIRMAN. I can see her status might be different from the others. Mrs. Flanery, will you consult with Mr. Roberts and make some form of application so that we can secure an adjudication of your case from the legal division of the Veterans' Bureau?

Mrs. FLANERY. Yes, sir.

The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Roberts, will you assist in having that presented?

Mr. ROBERTS. I will be very glad to do so.

Mr. MILLER. The World War adjusted compensation act would undoubtedly have to be amended if this matter goes forward; title 2 gives a long list of those who shall not be granted and adjusted compensation credit.

The CHAIRMAN. Will you insert that data in the record, Mr. Miller, the adjusted compensation act data on that?

Mr. MILLER. Yes.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will stand adjourned until 10 o'clock Monday morning, at which time Captain Bettelheim will appear before the committee. Following that, time will be given to some Members of Congress who have requested that their testimony be taken by the committee. The clerk will notify the Members that we will hear from them commencing Tuesday at 10 o'clock a. m., giving preference first to former members of this committee, and then to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Appropriations, who has a matter that he desires to take up with us.

(Thereupon, at 11.45 o'clock a. m., the committee adjourned to meet again at 10 o'clock a. m. Monday, January 25, 1926.)

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON WORLD WAR VETERANS' LEGISLATION, Monday, January 25, 1926. The committee met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Royal C. Johnson (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be in order.

Gentlemen, we have had appear before the committee representatives of the American Legion and representatives of the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, and this morning we have with us Capt. Edwin S. Bettelheim, jr., who represents the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Together with Mr. Watson B. Miller, Mr. John Thomas Taylor, Mr. Edward McE. Lewis, and Mr. Thomas Kirby, Captain Bettelheim has appeared before the committee representing his organization at all of the hearings on legislative bills we have had. We are very glad to have you with us this morning, Captain Bettelheim, to give us the reaction of your organization on the provisions contained in House bill 4474 now before the committee.

This is, as you know, the general legislative bill which will contain all of the provisions affecting disabled men.

You may proceed.

STATEMENT OF CAPT. EDWIN S. BETTELHEIM, JR., CHAIRMAN, NATIONAL LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE, VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS OF UNITED STATES

Captain BETTELHEIM. Mr. Chairman, in behalf of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States I want to take this opportunity, before making any statement on the bill, to reiterate what our Commander in Chief Fred Stover said at the opening day of the hearings that is, that our organization feels that this piece of legislation is in safe hands and we appreciate the attention that this committee has given to this bill and all previous bills.

We have always felt that the representatives of the veteran organizations and the members of this committee have been just one family. We have set around the table and discussed these pieces of legislation pro and con rather than in a formal manner and thereby have made great strides.

As chairman of the national legislative committee of the Veterans of Foreign Wars I do not desire to take up too much of your time with extended hearings, as we have always been a firm believer in short hearings.

On November 30 of last year Capt. John Thomas Taylor, Capt. Watson B. Miller, Capt. Edward Lewis, of the American Legion, Capt. Thomas Kirby, of the Disabled American Veterans, and Mr. J. O. Roberts, of the office of general counsel of the Veterans' Bureau, and myself, of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, met in General Hines's office to submit the ideas and the resolutions of our respective national encampments and conventions as the basis of a common ground upon which to draft this bill. After the tentative draft was drawn up it was presented to the chairman of this committee, Mr. Johnson, who rounded certain features into their present shape and the bill is now before you.

So you see, gentlemen, that the veterans' organizations are of a common mind.

Before I proceed further, I wish at this opportunity to have inserted in the record the following legislative program outlined by the Twenty-sixth National Encampment of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, held at Tulsa, Okla., August 31 to September 5, 1925. Of course, we are only submitting those features of our program which directly pertain to this committee's work.

The CHAIRMAN. That may be inserted in the record. (The statement in question is as follows:)

LEGISLATIVE AND REHABILITATIVE PROGRAM VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS, 1925-26

Item 1.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States stress before Congress and the people that the greatest need of the veteran to-day is proper hospitalization and out-patient care for veterans, including the improvement of hospital facilities and equipment.

Item 2. That competent and sympathetic medical officers be placed in charge of these Government hospitals and that these officers be men who know how to handle the sick and disabled veteran in a sympathetic manner. Item 3.-That there be established as early as possible, additional and adequate diagnostic beds and that the Director of the Veterans' Bureau be urged to issue regulations requiring Veterans' Bureau doctors to give weight and consideration to the opinions and findings of the outside specialists who have been invited to visit, treat, and diagnose the veterans in diagnostic centers.

Item 4.-That we seek legislation for the better management of military homes, and that these homes, or at least their hospital facilities, be turned over to the jurisdiction of the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau. Item 5.—That we urge the enactment of legislation for the provision of Government radio equipment in the hospitals in soldier's homes, such as now provided in Veterans' Bureau hospitals.

Item 6.-That the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau be urged to provide regulation, or if necessary that Congress be urged to enact legislation which will prevent the wholesale discharges of veterans from hospitals, and that provision be made whereby, when a patient appeals to the regional office of the United States Veterans' Bureau against the ruling of the hospital discharge board, that he be permitted to remain in the hospital until the appeal is decided; and that the Veterans of Foreign Wars look with disfavor upon any action of a hospital disciplinary board which decreases, or in any way forfeits the compensation awarded to veteran patients, in violation of section 205 of the World War veterans' act, as amended.

Item 7.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek legislation for out-patient medical care and treatment for all veterans of all wars.

Item 8.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars reiterate its request to Congress to provide compensation at the rate of not less than $75 a month for the first year, and at the rate of not less than $50 a month thereafter subsequent to their discharge from the hospital of tuberculosis patients whose condition have been arrested and hospitalization no further required.

Item 9.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that legislation be enacted granting hospitalization to any and all veterans of any and all of America's war campaigns and occupations, in addition to those now provided by the World War veterans' act, as amended, providing the veteran holds an honorable discharge or similar release from service.

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Item 10.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that legislation be enacted which will remove the discrimination which now exists between "permanent total and temporary total disabilities, in so far as it pertains to dependency allowance; and that veterans suffering from permanent total disability allowances as those granted to men with temporary total rating; and furthermore that the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that these dependency allowances be increased.

Item 11.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge the elimination of the time limit on the entrance and termination of vocational training under the United States Veterans' Bureau for those veterans whose physical and mental condition prevent them from becoming feasible for training.

Item 12.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars reiterate its stand for the extension of the time limit in which to convert war-risk insurance into the permanent forms of Government insurance, to July 1, 1930.

Item 13.--That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that legislation be enacted which will eliminate any limitation on the time in which a veteran or his dependents may apply for compensation.

Item 14.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge the enactment of legislation which will provide for the reinstatement of lapsed insurance by disabled veterans, irrespective of the disability, without the necessity of paying all back premiums.

Item 15.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek legislation providing for the reimbursement of veterans for any loss to their clothing and personal effects suffered by loss due to fire and allied causes while these veterans are patients in hospitals in which the fire occurs.

Item 16.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau issue regulations which will provide compensation and necessary transportation and traveling expenses for veterans to diagnostic hospitals or centers when they go to such hospitals or centers for treatment, when it is found that the said veterans are suffering, or have been suffering, from a service connected disability, for which they received treatment.

Item 17.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge legislation which will award the reimbursement of burial expenses in the amounts provided in the present World War veterans' act, as amended, irrespective of whether the veteran's estate has coming to it any benefits from fraternal organizations, insurance companies, or State relief allowance.

Item 18.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge an amendment to rule 25 of the United States Senate which will provide for a veteran's relief committee in the Senate, similar to that now in existence in the House of Representatives, and that the chairman of such committee be an overseas veteran. Item 19.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge upon Congress that provisions be made whereby there will be but one hearing before a joint committee of both the Senate and House and have before it the consideration of a bill for veterans' relief legislation.

Item 22.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars again urge upon Congress the necessity for an early passage of the disabled emergency officers' retirement bill.

Item 25.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars look with disfavor upon any move or outgrowth of Government bureaus which would in any way disintegrate the United States Veterans' Bureau.

Item 26.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge that there be a change in the administration and personnel of the United States Veterans' Bureau and recommend the appointment of personnel with attitude sympathetic toward the veterans.

Item 30.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge a centralization of records in one file or folder of veterans under the United States Veterans' Bureau, thus obviating the necessity of the veterans and their dependents sending duplicate affidavits, death certificates, etc., to different divisions of the Veterans' Bureau.

Item 33.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars urge the establishment in the United States Veterans' Bureau of a section which will have charge of the follow-up system of veterans after they have been rehabilitated, and until they are permanently employed.

Item 36.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek legislation which will provide for the payment of compensation to the veterans, without apportionment to his wife when he and his wife have been legally separated or divorced through no fault of his own, providing that this does not in any way affect apportionment of award to the wives of men who are in insane institutions. Item 37.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek legislation providing for a more liberal compensation to ex-service men declared nonfeasible for vocational training.

Item 38.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars seek legislation or regulation providing that where deductions are made from veteran's compensation for recovery of overdue payments that these deductions be limited to 20 per cent of the total monthly amount due the veteran.

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Item 40.-That the Veterans of Foreign Wars look with disfavor upon the action or recommendation of any society or organization that would seek to amend the present law which would take from Government control the hospitalization of veterans.

Item 41.-Recommending legislation to compel the return of that portion of disabled persons' compensation withheld from the dependents when they can not be located after a period of one year.

Item 42. That we recommend that the Government establish an officer in each national home whose duty it will be to find positions for veterans in the individual homes, and also that the veterans be given preference as employees in the homes.

Item 44.-That the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau be requested to promulgate regulations to validate all evidence in claimant's cases from an ethical rather than from a legal and technical point of view.

Item 45.-We recommend action to compel full payment of amounts under adjusted-compensation policies to beneficiaries of deceased veterans.

Item 47.-That the Director of the United States Veterans' Bureau be requested to codify the recommendations, regulations, decisions, and legal opinions on all matters pertaining to veterans of service connections with the United States Government.

Captain BETTELHEIM. Now, Mr. Chairman, the first amendment which I wish to take up is the amending section 4, concerns the establishment of a chaplains' corps in the Veterans' Bureau. Our organization is strongly on record in favor of such an amendment. We believe that a chaplain should not go through the necessity of a civil service examination and all that formality. The fact that he is a chaplain should qualify him for a position in the Veterans' Bureau, providing he meets the approval of the director of the bureau; and our organization, in its last two encampments, has expressed itself in favor of this amendment.

The CHAIRMAN. You recognize the fact, do you not, that there are many very devout people who believe that the only safe method of approaching heaven is through their own religious denomination and that practical application of this proposed amendment might cause dissension in some of the hospitals?

Captain BETTELHEIM. It would not cause any more dissension than the present system of having to take somebody qualified through the civil service. The first three on the list might all be of the same faith, and the chaplain now in the hospital might also be of that faith and they may want to get one of another faith. It has been the policy to have in these hospitals at least two chaplains, a Protestant and a Catholic chaplain. In fact, that has been the policy all through the Government institutions. Now if the first three men on the list should all be of the same faith it would put the Veterans' Bureau in a rather embarrassing position, and we think it ought to be up to the director to choose.

The CHAIRMAN. Practically, he does choose, does he not, by shifting them from place to place?

Captain BETTELHEIM. Yes, but there is a limit to that.
The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed.

Captain BETTELHEIM. Now, in reference to the establishment of a medical corps in the bureau, our organization feels this way about such a proposition: We believe that the establishment of such a system, for the obtaining of competent medical officers and the retaining of them, as this committee may evolve would be most advantageous but we would urge that in making provision for the establishment of a medical corps in the Veterans' Bureau that provision