ARKANSAS

Armistice day.-Law enacted making armistice day a State holiday.
Boxing.-Staging of boxing exhibitions legalized.

Disabled men.-Law enacted appropriating $15,000 for prosecution of disability claims.

Flag.-Law passed protecting the flag.

History.-Adjutant general to prepare and print a brief history of veterans and civilians who did outstanding work in the prosecution of the war.

Service bureau.-The sum of $9,300 appropriated in 1927 to maintain the Arkansas Service Bureau, which prosecutes veterans' claims against the Federal Government.

War memorial building.-Six thousand dollars appropriated to maintain State war memorial building.

CALIFORNIA

Adjusted compensation.-Legislature memorialized Congress to enact the adjusted compensation bill.

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made State and school holiday. Bond issue.-A $10,000,000 bond issue was voted to aid veterans in the purchase of homes and farms.

Burials.-Ex-service men and their widows buried at the expense of the county in any cemetery other than those used exclusively for paupers. Maximum allowance, $125. Suitable headstone also provided.

Certificates of discharge recorded free of charge.-No fee shall be charged for recording or indexing ex-service men's discharge certificates, or for performing any service in connection with the filing of claims for pension, compensation, etc.

Child welfare.-Certain sums accruing to the State from delinquent-tax sales are used for the education of orphan children of war veterans.

Education.-An act to aid veterans in continuing their education, to be done in Institute of California, administered by veterans' welfare board, with eligibility proved same as in farm and home purchase act. This act appropriates $500,000 for its administration, and the amount of money allotted to a veteran is determined by the requirements of his individual case, the maximum being $1,000, which is used for the payment of tuition or other fees, books, and supplies, or an amount for living expenses not to exceed $40 per month. The board's educational supervisor assists veterans in outlining their courses and selecting the proper institutions.

Farm and home purchase act.-An act to aid veterans in acquiring farms and homes, providing for the issuance of $10,000,000 worth of bonds to administer this act. Administered by veterans' welfare board of California. Eligibility requirements are United States citizen active in Army, Navy, or Marine Corps in time of war, honorably discharged therefrom, residence in Califorina at time of enlistment, induction, commission, or drafting, and at present resident of California. When eligibility is proved veteran is entitled to select a home (maximum value $5,000) or farm ($7,500) situated in California; appraisements are made thereon, and if property is suitable and price asked a fair one, board buys for cash and then resells to veteran for cash payment down and 5 per cent (on home) or 10 per cent (on farm), the balance being amortized over a period of 20 years at 5 per cent interest and payable in equal monthly or yearly installments. To cover expenses of administration a 5 per cent loading charge is made on each sale to veteran. If veteran is already buying property on contract, the board is empowered in the same manner to take over the unpaid balance of the contract. State property is exempt from taxation, the veteran paying no taxes during the life of the contract. Amended to provide that the veteran in purchasing a home or farm from the State may add as much as $2,500 of his own money.

Guardians. The public administrator in any given county is authorized to act as guardian for incompetent veterans who have no relative to act as such guardian.

Meeting halls for veterans.-State loan empowers counties to levy special taxes for this purpose. Amended to permit cities and counties to cooperate with reference to this matter.

Preference.-War veterans passing police and watchmen examination under civil service shall be placed before any nonveteran on eligible list.

State holidays.-Defined by legislation with special mention of Memorial and armistice days and their observance by the public schools, colleges, State institutions, and State officials of California.

Tax exemption.-Veterans exempt from $1,000 assessed valuation property taxes. If unable to earn livelihood by manual labor, veteran is exempt from paying business license tax.

Veterans' home.--Funds appropriated for the erection of an additional building or buildings at the veterans' home at Yountville.

War history.-State law empowers each county to levy special taxes to produce not over $2,500 for compilation of war history of each respective county.

COLORADO

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Bonus.-A State adjusted compensation bill, passed by the legislature, providing $15 for each month of service was defeated at the general election. Boxing.-Boxing contests legalized in Colorado.

Burial of needy veterans.-Provides $50 toward the burial of needy veterans, to be paid by the county in which the deceased veteran resided.

Land settlement board.-The Colorado land settlement board promotes settlement for agriculture upon lands within the State and has the further purpose of aiding the settlement of ex-service men upon such lands and to make possible cooperation with the United States in the development and settlement of such lands. This board is empowered to act under the terms of the law without the cooperation of the United States.

State educational loan fund.-An appropriation of $200,000 for the purpose of making educational loans (not to exceed $200 in any one case) to citizens of Colorado who are honorably discharged veterans of the World War. Such loans must be used for training in some educational institution of the State of Colorado. Application should be made to the State superintendent of instruction, room 127, Capitol Building, Denver, Colo., who will refer it to the State educational loan board for decision in each particular case. Loans should be repaid within five years, with legal interest after three years.

CONNECTICUT

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made a State holiday. Civil service preference.-Civil service preference for veterans has been adopted.

Education for the blind.-The education of blind ex-service men and women is to be provided from State funds.

Exemption from taxation.-Veterans are exempted from taxation. Headstone.-Headstones, not to exceed $35 in cost each, shall be erected at public expense at graves of soldiers, sailors, and marines.

Memorials. The placing of memorials in State parks and reservations is authorized.

Soldiers' home.-World War veterans are eligible for admission to the State Soldiers' Home.

State relief. An appropriation of $2,500,000 has been made, the yearly interest on which sum is used to take care of sick, indigent, and disabled veterans and their dependents. An additional $200,000 appropriation has been voted for this fund. Routine additional appropriations of $50,000 are made biennially to cover any deficiencies which may occur from the income of the fund.

Use of State armories.-World War veterans' organizations are granted the privilege of establishing quarters in State armories.

DELAWARE

Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made a State holiday. Memorial Day.-Law appropriating $1,000 annually to be expended by the American Legion for the proper observance of Memorial Day.

FLORIDA

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Americanism.-Legislature appropriated $2,500 a year for Americanism at the University of Florida. This is called the American Legion Chair of

Americanism of the University of Florida. This is in addition to the American Legion endowment fund of $40,000.

Appointment of commission for compensation.-Created commission appointive by the governor to investigate the feasibility of State adjusted compensation.

Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made a State holiday.
Education, physical.

This is now supervised in schools.

Guardianship.-Laws conform with Veterans' Bureau requirements, removing stigma of lunacy.

Hospital construction.-A tubercular sanitarium provided by act of legislature.

Memorial bridges.-All State bridges must be named after a World War veteran who died in service.

Memorial Day.-Has been designated as May 30 and made a State holiday. Paris convention.-Legislature appropriated $30,000 to send department's musical organization to France.

Recording certificates of discharge.—Certificates of discharge are recorded free of charge by clerks of courts. (Ch. 7918, No. 136, approved March 29, 1919.)

School survey.-The sum of $60,000 appropriated to provide a state-wide survey of the school system by an expert commission.

School taxes.-Limit of 10 mills removed. Money apportioned to counties on basis of school attendance. Redistricting ordered, and duties and powers more definitely defined of county boards of education and trustees of special tax districts.

State service.-Legislature created a State service office under the adjutant general's office, with salary and expenses of $10,000 a year.

GEORGIA

Community service commission.-The commission, with community boards in all counties of the State, in addition to various other duties, aids in securing employment for returned soldiers and sailors and initiates and assists movements designed for their welfare. (Georgia Laws, 1919, p. 228.)

Exemption from payment of road and poll taxes.-Ex-service men are entitled to vote at any county election without the payment of road and poll taxes which accrue within the period from six months previous to entrance to service to six months after discharge. (Georgia Laws, 1920, p. 145.)

Guardians for incompetent veterans.-At the 1925 session of the legislature, through the efforts of the Legion, guardianship laws were amended so as to allow the court of ordinary (probate court) to appoint guardians for veterans of the World War without trial, on the certificate of incompetence signed by the regional manager of the United States Veterans' Bureau in Georgia or the medical officer in charge of any Government hospital for mental and nervous diseases, providing that guardians so appointed should be subject to the same provision of law as guardians for idiots, lunatics, and insane persons in the State. (Georgia Laws, 1925, p. 270.)

License-tax exemption.-Indigent or disabled ex-service men are exempted from the payment of a tax for a license to peddle, and are likewise exempted from the payment of tax to "conduct business," the Supreme Court having held this to mean that an indigent or disabled veteran can carry on any line of business not otherwise prohibited, and may employ as many agents as necessary.

Retirement for National Guard officers.-At the regular session 1925, an act was passed providing for the retirement of officers of the National Guard of Georgia who were mustered or called into Federal service during the World War and later honorably discharged without having first returned to the services of the State.

Veterans' service office.—A law enacted providing for the appointment of a director at $3,600 a year, and an assistant director at $2,400, said director to be appointed by the governor from the World War veterans of the State. The purpose of the veterans' service office is to disseminate information regarding all laws beneficial to ex-service men, to assist all those who have claims under these laws in obtaining their rights, and generally to do all things possible for the protection of the worthy veterans, and to cooperate with the Legion and other agencies to this end.

IDAHO

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Antialien land law. This provides that unassimilable aliens can not own land within the boundaries of the State of Idaho.

Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made a State holiday.

County memorials.-Payment of $1,000 State funds to any county for erecting county war memorial.

Flag etiquette. This law provides that the teaching of the American Legion flag code shall be mandatory in the public schools of Idaho.

Funeral expenses.-Funeral expenses, not to exceed $75, for ex-service men and their wives or widows, is payable by the county treasurer.

Guardianship.-General guardianship law protects estates of minors, insane, and incompetent persons.

Idaho Soldiers' Home.-Ex-service men of the World War may be admitted to the Idaho Soldiers' Home.

Poll tax.-Ex-service men exempt from payment of poll tax.

Preference right of entry on public lands.-Ex-service men and women will be given preference right of entry when the Carey Act lands are open for settlement.

Public documents free.--Certified documents without cost when pertaining to disabled matters.

Taxation. Provides county levies to maintain World War memorials.

Veterans' Welfare Commission.-Veterans' Welfare Commission renders emergency assistance to disabled and destitute ex-service men and their dependents.

ILLINOIS

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Armistice day.-Armistice day, November 11, made a State holiday. Bonus.-A State adjusted compensation bill, which was ratified by the people in the general election, was adjudged constitutional by the State supreme court on April 11, 1924. A summary of the provisions of the law is as follows:

Fifty cents for each day in service after April 6, 1917 (maximum payment $300) to each person who served for at least two months, part of such service being between April 6, 1917, and November 11, 1918, who were residents of Illinois at the time of entering such service, who were honorably discharged or separated from such service, or furloughed to the reserve or are retired, or still in active service. The law does not apply to members of the S. A. T. C., or S. N. T. C. Payment is not made to "conscientious objectors" or to persons who have received a similar bonus from another State.

Payment will be made to the nearest living relative (husband or wife, child or children, mother, father, or sister in the order named) in case the veteran is now deceased. If the death occurred while such person was in the service, the full $300 will be paid. A bond issue of $55,000,000 is authorized to raise the required funds, and appropriated to the board to make the payments.

All applications shall have been made before January 1, 1925. About 325,000 have registered for payment.

Burial. An appropriation to provide funeral expenses and headstones for deceased World War veterans, their mothers, wives or widows, will be made by the county, after approval by referendum. (H. B. 371, June 24, 1921.)

Cottages for mentally afflicted service men.-Three hundred thousand dollars in a lump sum was granted for cottages which would segregate the mentally afflicted service man from the civilian patient, where he may receive custodial care and be restricted according to the condition of his mind. Four of these cottages were dedicated on May 28, 1922, and the others on June 15, 1923, and they are models in every sense.

Employment statistics.-Employers of five or more persons are required annually, upon request, to report data concerning employment of veterans to the department of labor, which will investigate and promote their reestablishment in industry, and will classify and publish statistics relating thereto. (S. B. 121, approved June 21, 1919.)

Hospital. The legislature appropriated $60,000 for a site at Elgin and $200,000 for the erection of a hospital which will be a rehabilitation home for mental and nervous cases not provided for in the cottages before mentioned.

Orphans' home.—What was formerly the orphans' home for children of the veterans of the Civil and Spanish-American Wars has been rededicated to the

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veterans of the World War, and the following appropriations have been made to improve it, making it a wonderful monument to the American Legion of Illinois, and a splendid home for the children of our unfortunate comrades: $100,000 for heating and plumbing; $50,000 for two cottages for boys; $15,000 additional to reequip the old hospital; an additional $50,000 for a complete new hospital, the old hospital to be used exclusively as an isolation hospital; $40,000 for two more cottages for boys; $69,000 for permanent improvements, repairs and indoor swimming pool; an increased appropriation for food and clothing.

Preference in civil service. In grading examinations for civil service, veterans shall be given credit for 1 per cent (on basis of 100 per cent) for each six months or fraction of service, but not more than 18 months of service. (H. R. 498, approved June 24, 1921, amends section 29a of the 1911 act.)

Recording discharge certificates.-Recorders are required to record free of charge in separate books, certificates of discharge of honorably discharged United States soldiers and sailors. (S. B. 231.)

Scholarships.-The award of normal school and University of Illinois scholarships may be made to residents of the State who were in the service. Any student who left such schools to serve in the Army or Navy shall be entitled to complete his course without further tuition charges; but this does not apply to the S. A. T. C. (H. B. 733.)

Soldiers' Orphans' Home.-Indigent children, up to 18 years of age, whose father or mother was a veteran will be admitted to the soldiers' orphans' home. (S. B. 15, approved June 20, 1921.)

INDIANA

Administration of oaths.-Fee limited to 25 cents for administering oaths for procuring compensation, back pay, pension, etc., for veterans, or the widows, orphans, children, or legal representatives of deceased veterans.

American Legion emblem.-Passed law for protection of the Legion emblem. Bonus.-Bonus bill passed State legislature but was vetoed as unconsti

tutional.

Civil appointments.-Persons honorably discharged from the military or naval service of the United States by reason of disability resulting from wounds or sickness incurred in line of duty, shall be preferred for appointment in civil offices of the State. Resolution by general assembly declares that all positions granted and growing out of oil inspection bills shall first be tendered to the soldiers and sailors of the World War.

Education.-The Legion defeated an effort in the 1927 legislature to lower the age of compulsory education from 16 to 14 years, and obtained an increase in the appropriation for institutions of higher learning.

Free employment office.-Establishment of a free State employment office for soldiers and sailors was vetoed to cooperate with the Federal Board for Vocational Education in the rehabilitation of disabled veterans.

German language forbidden.-The German language shall not be taught, in any of the elementary schools or any private or parochial schools or in any high school or in any benevolent correctional school in the State.

Indiana State Soldiers' Home.-Veterans of the World War are given all privileges enjoyed by veterans of former wars so far as pertains to the State Soldiers' Home.

Inheritance tax.-The taxes provided for by the inheritance tax law shall not apply to the transfer of the estate of any decedent leaving an estate of less than $2,500 dying, or who has died, while serving in the military or naval forces during the continuance of the war, or as a result of injuries received or disease contracted in such service.

Memorials in each county. The board of commissioners in any county is authorized to construct and maintain memorial tablets containing the names of all soldiers, sailors, marines, and nurses who served in the World War from such county.

Memorials.-Counties and cities are authorized to provide and maintain suitable memorials for soldiers and sailors of the World War.

National Guard armories.-The Legion supported a bill to expend $80,000 on National Guard armory construction.

Naval militia.-Naval militia established through support of the Legion. Permits to hunt and fish without license.-Permits shall be issued upon application to veterans, without charge, by the department of conservation, to hunt and fish during any open season without procuring a license.