NATIONAL DISABLED SOLDIERS' LEAGUE HEARINGS BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON SIXTY-EIGHTH CONGRESS SECOND SESSION PURSUANT TO H. Res. 412 AUTHORIZING THE APPOINTMENT OF A COMMITTEE TO JANUARY 23, TO MARCH 3, 1925 Printed for the use of the Select Committee on Investigation of the SELECT COMMITTEE ON INVESTIGATION OF THE NATIONAL DISABLED SOLDIERS' LEAGUE (INC.) II HAMILTON FISH, JR., New York, Chairman WILLIAM D. BOIES, Iowa. EUGENE BLACK, Texas. RICHARD S. ALDRICH, Rhode Island. WILLIAM P. CONNERY, JR., Massachusetts. Maj. RANDOLPH C. SHAW, Counsel to the Committee 331970 INVESTIGATION OF NATIONAL DISABLED SOLDIERS' LEAGUE SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Tuesday, February 17, 1925. The committee this day met at 10 o'clock a. m., Hon. Hamilton Fish, jr. (chairman), presiding. There were present the following members of the special com mittee: Messrs. Aldrich, Black of Texas, Boies, and Connery. Mr. Abner Siegal, representing John T. Nolan, James F. McCann, Kenneth D. Murphy, and National Disabled Soldiers' League. f The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order. This committee was appointed under H. R. 412 to investigate the National Disabled Soldiers' League. We have a limited time before the end of Congress to report back, and we must proceed as rapidly as possible. The committee has decided that they will permit cross-examination. But this is not a court; this is a congressional investigating committee, and we reserve the right to restrict cross-examination or to cause the cross-examination to be done through the chairman of the committee by written questions. We desire, above all, to expedite the testimony that is presented before the committee. The first invitations issued by this committee were to the officers of the National Disabled Soldiers' League (Inc.). If they wish to appear here, inasmuch as there is now proceeding before the Department of Justice an investigation of this organization, the committee would require that they waive immunity before being allowed to testify. Counsel for the committee, Major Shaw, may now proceed. Major SHAW. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, for several years past various sections of the country have been flooded with letters soliciting funds in behalf of the National Disabled Soldiers' League, whose certificate of incorporation certified by the secretary of state of New York, is here inserted in the record as Exhibit No. 1. (Exhibit 1, referred to, follows:) EXHIBIT No. 1 CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION OF NATIONAL DISABLED SOLDIERS' LEAGUE (INC.) We, the undersigned, all being persons of full age and citizens of the United States, and at least one of us a resident of the State of New York, desiring to form a corporation pursuant to section 41 of the membership corporation laws 1 of the State of New York, do hereby make, sign, and acknowledge this certificate, as follows: First. The particular objects for which the corporation is formed are as follows: To cultivate social intercourse among the members of the corporation; to foster and perpetuate national patriotism by consulting, cooperating, and acting in conjunction with the Governments of the United States and of the several States and Territories of the United States and with the officials thereof in formulating and effecting the enactment of legislation for the benefit of soldiers, sailors, and marines of the United States who have become disabled either during or as a result of their service in the World War; and to collate and disseminate among such soldiers, sailors, and marines information relating to the foregoing matters. Second. The name of the proposed corporation is to be "National Disabled Soldiers League (Inc.)." Third. The territory in which the operations of the corporation are to be principally conducted is the State of New York and the other States and Territories of the United States. Fourth. The principal business office of the corporation is to be located in the Borough of Manhattan, in the city, county, and State of New York. Fifth. The number of the directors of the corporation is to be 15. Sixth. The names and places of residence of the persons to be the directors of the corporation until its first annual meeting are as follows: George H. Gillin, New York City; Sidney A. Marks, New York City; Arthur T. Schmidt, West Orange, N. J.; Myles Sweeney, New York City; Frank J. McTeigue, New York City; Adam Eissinger, Mankato, Minn.; Willie Staten, Bowling Green, Ky.; William Brady, Pine Ridge, Miss.; Edward Shattuck, Morrisville, Vt.; Michael Zilincar, Los Angeles, Calif.; Nathan M. Evans, Hebron, Ohio; Walter Erbacher, Ottumwa, Iowa; Bernard J. Duffy, Providence, R. I.; Robert Farmer, Charlotte, Va.; and Clyde France, New York City. In witness whereof we have made, signed, and acknowledged this certificate. Dated this 21st day of September, 1920. GEORGE H. GILLIN, STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: On this 21st day of September, 1920, before me personally came George H. 'Gillin, to me known and known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same. [SEAL.] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: On this 21st day of September, 1920, before me personally came Arthur T. Schmidt, to me known and known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same. [SEAL.] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: On this 21st day of September, 1920, before me personally came Sidney A. Marks, to me known and known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same. [SEAL.] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: On this 21st day of September, 1920, before me personally came Ralph H. Faulkner, to me known and known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same. [SEAL.] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: On this 22d day of September, 1920, before me personally came Edward D. Potter, to me known and known to me to be one of the persons described in and who executed the foregoing certificate and duly acknowledged to me that he executed the same. [SEAL.] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. I hereby approve the foregoing certificate of incorporation of the National Disabled Soldiers' League (Inc.). ROBERT F. WAGNER, Justice of the Supreme Court. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, 88: Arthur T. Schmidt, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: I am one of the persons mentioned in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation. I am of full age and am a citizen of the United States. ARTHUR T. SCHMIDT. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of September, 1920. [SEAL] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss; Sidney A. Marks, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: I am one of the persons mentioned in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation. I am of full age and am a citizen of the United States. SIDNEY A. MARKS. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of September, 1920. [SEAL] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: R. H. Faulkner, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: I am one of the persons mentioned in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation. I am of full age and am a citizen of the United States. R. H. FAULKNER. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 21st day of September, 1920. [SEAL] E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. My commission expires March 30, 1921. STATE OF NEW YORK, County of New York, ss: Edward D. Potter, being duly sworn, deposes and says as follows: I am one of the persons mentioned in and who executed the foregoing certificate of incorporation. I am of full age and am a citizen of the United States. EDWARD D. POTTER. Subscribed and sworn to before me this 22d day of September, 1920. [SEAL.] My commission expires March 30, 1921. E. HAROLD WETSEL, Notary Public. |