You have really thousands of them that you did not get hold of. Now, could we reach them through registered mail?

Mr. MILLER. We have to get their names first, Mr. Chairman. That might be available through the settlement of the adjusted-compensation certificates here recently. There is no question, Mr. Chairman, but what Representative Sauthoff is correct. A member of my own staff found down in Mississippi, in the last 2 years, an elderly negress who had lost a son and had no idea what her rights might be. Mr. JARMAN. I should think that would be the way to get that information, from the adjusted-service-compensation list, and I certainly do agree with you and think we should do it.

Mr. RICE. Mr. Chairman, on that question, here is a matter to consider, too: There are several thousands of parents receiving Government-insurance benefits who are not receiving any death-compensation benefits at the present time; and who, upon the discontinuance of the insurance payments, at least a portion of them, may decide that they are in need of death-compensation benefits.

Mr. JARMAN. Mr. Lanzetta?

Mr. LANZETTA. I think this question has been answered but I want to find out if there is any direct communication with the parents who did not know their rights under the law, whether anything had been done about it. Now, Mr. Miller, with respect to the adjustedservice compensation, the fact that many of the adjusted-service-compensation certificates now have been cashed—will you have any way of finding out of the death of these veterans? Would you have any other way of finding out about them?

Mr. MILLER. Outside of the service organizations, Mr. Lanzetta, there are specific instructions in the regional offices that, whenever a regional office does hear of the death of a veteran, to find some way of notifying those who survive him of their potential rights, not promising anything of any kind, but of their right to file for the various types of benefits.

The case that Representative Sauthoff is talking about is a case of sham and shadow, which is not reached through any method; that is, the field office receives no report about it. When it does, we have to take it up in our own chapters and bring those cases to the attention of the Government, but thousands of cases escape us, because the most ideal system we have all been able to develop has not been an effective one.

Mr. LANZETTA. Have you any suggestion to make as to how to reach that group?

Mr. MILLER. I think the adjusted-service settlement gives us the best key to the vital statistics and records and history of death than anything we ever had and it is practically a current thing. But that would fail in some instances, because, singular as it may seem, quite a considerable number of veterans have not applied for their adjusted-service certificates; not the man who believes it is not the duty of the Government to pay them, or because his rank did not permit him to apply, but another group that just failed for some reason or other; and the Veterans' Administration have a record of the men who have disappeared for a period of 7 years, and were getting ready to make the award to those who survive them, and the man showed up for the first time and applied for his World War adjusted-service certificate.

Mr. JARMAN. Mr. Rice?

Mr. RICE. The V. F. W. has also been responsible for the introduction of H. R. 4857, by Congressman Lanzetta, which would provide, in effect, payment for hospitalization of service-connected disabled World War Veterans residing in a foreign country. That is not now done, and we think that is the equitable thing to do as to those men. Now, General Hines will no doubt present statistics as to the number who might thereby be affected, potentially.

We give our endorsement to H. R. 237, introduced by Congressman Griswold, which would, in effect, authorize the employes of the Veterans' Administration to accept or reject the quarters furnished by the Veterans' Administration, without deduction from their salaries if they did not accept such quarters. The situation now is that the rule or policy of the Veterans' Administration is to accept such quarters at facilities completely filled, and we find that stenographers are sometimes required to reside in such quarters, in pursuance of that policy, which would not appear to be in pursuance of the policy as to the need for certain personnel being on hand at the facility, such as nurses and a certain portion of the attendants, and so forth. We give our endorsement to the principles of that bill.

We also approve of the principles of H. R. 2548, introduced by Congressman Welchel, which would, in effect, make eligible for admission to the Civilian Conservation Corps, or for other governmental work, veterans who are otherwise qualified, but whose names have not appeared on the relief rolls.

think it can be said that veterans are peculiarly adverse to going on relief rolls, or any other form of charity, and resist it to the very last, almost to the point of destitution; and we do not believe they should be required to go through the demoralizing process of having to go on the relief rolls, in order to be made eligible for W. P. A., P. W. A., or C. C. C., and so forth.

Mrs. ROGERS. Is there any age limit?

Mr. RICE. I do not believe there is any age limit, but there is a physical-qualification limit.

We also give our endorsement to H. R. 2692, introduced by Congressman McCormack of Massachusetts, to provide, in effect, the national flag for the burial of men honorably discharged from the service, men and women, whether they were in the War, or not in the War. We believe that all veterans of this country are entitled to an honorable burial, and at least to use the flag on their caskets.

We also give our endorsement to the bill introduced by Congressman Rankin, the chairman of this committee, H. R. 4098 which would, in effect, extend to July 1, 1937, the opportunity of making application for benefits under Public Law No. 844, enacted during the last session of Congress, as to those veterans and civilians who were injured in the veterans' camps in Florida, in the Florida hurricane disaster, on Metacumbe Key and Windley Island. The law originally provided that they were to have only 1 year after the date of the disaster and, therefore, they had up until September 2, 1936, in spite of the fact that Public 844 did not become law until June 29, 1936, thus allowing them only about 2 months within which to make application. The V. F. W. did try to see to it that all of those possible potential beneficiaries under such law were advised as to their rights in the matter, and arrange with the United States Compensation Bureau to

send out forms and information concerning their rights under the law as to compensation.

Mrs. ROGERS. Last summer I found men in hospitals that did not realize they were included.

Mr. RICE. Yes; I had a couple of men come to my office after September 2, and advised me they had received our letter, but had not received it until after September 2, 1936, because they had been going from one place to another trying to make a living, or had been in the hospital, and our letter had not caught up with them until after that time. It seems only equitable that that time should be extended.

Mr. JARMAN. Until July 1, at least?

Mr. RICE. Yes.

Mr. JARMAN. And I think it ought to be done pretty speedily.

Mr. RICE. Yes; unless it is done immediately, it will be too late, and you ought to extend that date even further than July 1937. Mrs. ROGERS. Why not indefinitely, Mr. Chairman?

Mr. JARMAN. Yes; I do not see any objection to that. Do you see any objection to extending it indefinitely?

Mr. RICE. Our organization stands for the principle that there should be no limit dates as to benefits to which veterans might be entitled, but it was perhaps thought that it would force the claims to be filed.

Mr. JARMAN. At any rate, I think we ought to take action on it quickly, or extend it when we do take action.

Mr. GRIFFITH. Why not extent it indefinitely? Why put any date on it?

Mr. JARMAN. All right, Mr. Rice.

Mr. RICE. There should not be any limit date on any benefits of the Veterans' Administration. This, however, does not come under the Veterans' Administration but the United States Compensation Bureau.

That

We also give our endorsement to H. R. 3486, introduced by Congressman Costellow, which would, in effect, provide the same extension from taxation to retired officers and enlisted men of the Army and Navy and Marine Corps as already extended to the retired disabled emergency officers. We believe they should be entitled to the same privileges and exemptions as now accorded to other veterans. involves very little money, but it does involve an equitable principle. Mr. Chairman, I testified before your subcommittee on insurance last Saturday, and I was advised by such subcommittee that they desired testimony only concerning section 2 of H. R. 1960; and I again want to know whether or not we are going to have an opportunity to discuss the other sections of that bill concerning insurance matters. Mr. JARMAN. You mean other insurance section?

Mr. RICE. Yes.

Mr. JARMAN. I am sorry, Mr. Rice, that I cannot answer that question, because you remember Chairman Griswold of the subcommittee said he was going to ask Chairman Rankin, and if he did, I was not present. However, as a general principle, I believe I can gamble and say "Yes".

Mr. RICE. I would like to put in a request to reserve the opportunity of discussing the other phases of that bill, if we can, at some later time.

Mr. JARMAN. I think I can speak for the subcommittee

Mr. RICE. Either before the subcommittee or the entire committee. Mr. SAUTHOFF. We talked a little about that when we met at 10 o'clock this morning, and it was the consensus of opinion that we ought to go into all of the different insurance matters.

Mr. JARMAN. So we will see that you get that opportunity, Mr. Rice. Mr. RICE. Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, I thank you very much for the patience you have shown me in my presentation of the testimony concerning the various bills in which we are interested. Mr. JARMAN. We thank you, Mr. Rice, and we are delighted to have had you.

Is there anyone else who would like to be heard? If not, we will adjourn until 10:30 tomorrow.

(Thereupon a recess was taken in the hearing until 10:30 a. m., Wednesday, Mar. 10, 1937.)

TO AMEND CERTAIN LAWS AND VETERANS' REGULATIONS AFFECTING WORLD WAR VETERANS AND THEIR DEPENDENTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1937

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

COMMITTEE ON WORLD WAR VETERANS' LEGISLATION,

Washington, D. C. The committee met at 10:30 o'clock, Hon. John E. Rankin (chairman) presiding.

The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.

When we closed yesterday, it was understood that the American Veterans' Association would be heard today and, if a representative of that organization is present, we will hear what they have to say. Mr. Hobart, give your name to the reporter, and official title, and so forth.

STATEMENT OF DONALD A. HOBART, NATIONAL COMMANDER, AMERICAN VETERANS' ASSOCIATION

Mr. HOBART. Mr. Chairman, and members of the committee, in reviewing various measures dealing with World War widows and dependents which are before your committee for consideration, we have attempted to approach the question on as nearly a scientific basis as possible.

We have necessarily been guided in our analysis of these measures by the simple principles for which the association stands

The CHAIRMAN. If you care to do so, you may extend your remarks in the record and insert your statement in the record and read such portions of it as you desire, or make your statement, then answer such questions as may be propounded.

Mr. HOBART. This is a very brief statement, sir, and I prefer to read it, if that is agreeable.

The CHAIRMAN. Very well; proceed.

Mr. HOBART. Which may be briefly stated as being a belief that under present and proposed laws many inequalities exist or will be created, with the result that certain groups of veterans and dependents will be inadequately compensated.

We believe, in general, that the Government is morally obligated to adequately compensate all veterans, who suffered injury or disease sustained in line of their military duty, and the dependents of those who lost their lives from causes arising directly out of military service. We further believe that the whole question of veterans' compensation should be restricted to line of duty disability or loss of life, and that proposals to pay monetary benefits to veterans, frequently urged