70,000 claims that might be regarded as pending, and in the so-called pending claims we hold those which we call potential claims. By these potential claims I mean just this: In many cases the men who are wounded slightly do not think they need compensation at present. We write to them, and receiving no reply write and write again. Now this entails a great amount of correspondence, as you must necessarily see. You may say: 'Why not drop it if he is not interested?' But we do not look at it that way. We regard it in this light. If the man is only slightly wounded now, very well, but it may happen that some day he may suffer from the effects of that wound, and then he will be entitled to compensation. Then he will apply for it, or at least he should. If he does not, and yet he is entitled to it, we do not feel as though we were doing our best to assist the ex-service man, and therefore we make every effort to settle all claims such as that, with the understanding that if at any future time he should ever be in need of help he will call upon us, and we will come across. We have had an almighty great task to accomplish, and it has not been simplified by the handicaps under which we have had to work in Washington. We have been scattered out through eighteen different buildings, and the departments were unable to get in touch with each other as quickly as they could if they were not so far scattered.

"In connection with the payment of allotment claims it might be said that in some cases, where men were so far from the Bureau at Washington that their discharge notices did not get into Washington until some time after they were discharged, it was impossible to tell when to discontinue payments. We have made about $1,400,000 in overpayments to men like this, but up to date I have not received a single complaint from the relatives of those soldiers, nor have they returned the money in many cases.

"And so it goes with the Bureau of War Risk Insurance. We have these large problems to work out and solve. Take, for instance, our legal department. We have a domestic relationship court which is the largest in the world. We need them to straighten out the tangles, I can assure you. Take, for instance, the married and divorced and separated men. Under the law they were obliged to make an allotment to their wives, and many of them not living with their wives did not want to do this. Well, we had more than 96,000 who denied that they ever had a wife or were married, and asked to be excused. I do not think there are any in Boston, and I hope there are none present. [Laughter.]

"Another difficulty for us: Take the notices for premiums due on your insurance which you receive every month or so.

Do you realize just what a tremendous amount of labor it means to get these out? Do you realize it means that in order to send one of these to every discharged soldier every month over 4,000,000 of these notices must be typewritten by hand? Well, it cannot be done. 'Well,' you say why not put in the addressograph system, and let it slide through like that?' Well, we can put in the machines, but even then we must do the work. The machine will not work without some assistance. We have entered into a contract with the Addressograph Company that they will not supply other orders until ours has been filled. We have spent $200,000 in parts alone for our machines, and I think, yes, I know, that we have the largest addressograph system in the world.

"Another feature which we are trying to place before Congress is to allow insurance premiums to be paid through the post office. In time, if all goes well and our plans carry through, you will be able to pay your premiums at the post office just as you buy a money order, and you can hand your premium to your letter carrier and save much correspondence back and forth with our office.

"I want all of you here to-day to think over what I have said, especially about the assuming of responsibilities, and carrying on the work of the Convention and pushing it through to a successful conclusion. Tell the Congress of the United States, in no uncertain terms, what you think you are entitled to, and I am sure that success will be yours. And, furthermore, I do not want any person here to feel that there is any obstacle between him and the Bureau of War Risk Insurance, because I am proud of the fact that the Bureau is a service for ex-service men by ex-service men. And that is just the factor that is going to make this Bureau a huge success. The more the ex-service men like yourselves get interested in it, and let those in authority know of your interest, the more successful it will be. And that is what I want to see. A big, large, successful Bureau, one which will abide by that wonderful motto of our American Legion: 'We stuck together over there; let's stick together over here.' "If there are any questions, I will try to answer them.” Question: "I would like to ask Mr. Jones how insurance on a policy can be resumed again after it has been dropped once?"

Answer: "At one time if a man or woman had dropped insurance

within six months after discharge it could be resumed by paying the back premiums up to date from time of lapsing. Now when a man was discharged from the service he may have had no employment. How could any one expect him to pay six months' back premiums when in fact no protection was furnished during those months? So we make a ruling in regard to that, and we allow eighteen months from the date of discharge in which he may reinstate his insurance without paying the back premium, which makes necessary only two months' premiums. This is a most liberal ruling, and should meet with the favor of all men who do not feel like paying back premiums, which they should not, in all justice, have to pay."

Question: "Can you tell me, Mr. Jones, just what constitutes total permanent disability?"

Answer: "When a man is not able to engage in gainful occupations he is supposed to be in that condition. It does not mean that both arms or both legs must be off, or that both eyes must be out. There is no specific rating of disability on this, but the general rule which I stated first is usually adopted as a standard."

Question: "Then, will you tell me why a man who has recently been discharged from the Mattapan Hospital to die-mind you sir, to die is not totally and permanently disabled? We received a telegram from the Bureau which stated that this was not a case of total permanent disability, but of total temporary disability. Can you explain that? This man was discharged at the request of his mother to die at home. Do not misunderstand me. He is ready to die, sir."

Answer: "From what you have said, the matter is dead wrong, and if you will give me the name and particulars of this case, I will personally investigate the matter and get results."

Question: "Upon discharge from the service every man is examined by no less than six doctors, and pronounced in good health before he is released. Now, why is it necessary for a man to go before a group of salaried physicians in the employ of the Bureau in order to be examined again to see if he is entitled to the benefits of compensation?"

Answer: "I am very glad to answer that question because I am afraid that many people share your opinion of the matter. When the man is discharged from the service, it is as you say. He is examined by several doctors and pronounced fit. This is the last official act

of the army before discharge. A record of this examination is kept. Some men when about to be discharged from service will do anything in their power to hide any defects which may trouble them in order that they may be discharged without delay. The purpose of the examination outside before compensation is paid is to discover whether the injury or ailment was due to line of duty or not. The records are compared with the army records and the decision based upon that. It is practically impossible to decide whether many cases are due to the service of the man, and as we have had a few fraudulent claims presented we have to exercise care in determining the worthiness of the case. Hence the new examination."

Question: "I would like to ask, Mr. Jones, how it is that a man who is 15 per cent disabled receives more than a man with 45 per cent disability? I know of several cases in which this is true. In my own case I am credited with 45 per cent disability, and am receiving less than a man who is given 15 per cent disability, and I am married with two children, and he is single."

Answer: "I doubt the correctness of such a fact. If it is being done, it is wrong. If you will speak to me later, I will give the matter my attention."

Question: "Mr. Jones, will you please answer this question. How is it that a man who has been awarded compensation of $30 a month is reduced to $15 a month. In this case the man has been able to resume work and manages to earn a little to help himself, but he is still dependent upon the $30 a month to assist him."

Answer: "In this case it is probably a matter of the rating of disability which we give to different cases. If the man was receiving $30 a month and was then cut down to $15, he merely was reduced in disability rating and received less compensation. It may be that he may be able to work without suffering a loss in disability rating. If you will kindly give me the data of the case I will endeavor to investigate it."

Delegate James A. Donovan, Lawrence Post 15: "I am sure that every man and woman here appreciates the remarks and especially the spirit shown by Mr. Cholmeley-Jones, and I am sure that every person here feels that Mr. Jones is distinctly a friend of the ex-service man. I realize that all these questions have been of vital importance, and I realize that there must be some more of equal importance, but I would suggest, and make it a motion, that the remainder of

the questions be given to Mr. Jones in writing, and that we give him. a rising vote of thanks for his courtesy and kindliness."

The motion was duly carried and a rising vote of thanks given to Mr. Jones.

Chairman Logan: "During the time the last gentleman was speaking I saw Colonel Stover looking for his Constitution Committee. Now if somebody will inform Colonel Stover where that committee is meeting, I will be very much obliged."

Mr. Root, Haverhill: "Colonel Stover has already been advised where that committee is meeting."

Chairman: "I am asked to announce by the Back Bay Post that they will hold open house for such of the delegates as wish at their headquarters, 3 Strand Hall, 177 Huntington Avenue, from 6 to 11 P.M."

Mr. Frank L. Damon, Hingham: "Mr. Commander, may I request that when a delegate is recognized by the Chair he be addressed as Comrade and not by his rank?" [Much laughter.]

Chairman: "I accept the suggestion of the gentleman from Hingham. I am sure we are all very grateful to Mr. Jones for the interesting address which he has just made, and I am sure that we appreciate fully all that he has done for us and has promised to do for us. As he said, it is a stupendous task, and the accomplishment of it needs the sound support of every single member of the Department of Massachusetts, The American Legion, which I am sure Mr. Jones will have. In addition to a representative of the Bureau of War Risk Insurance we have here with us to-day a gentleman who comes to speak to us on the subject of vocational training. This is a matter in which we are all interested, and I know that some of us are dissatisfied with the work accomplished by the Board. However, the gentleman whom I am about to introduce to you will endeavor to give you a few ideas on the Board, and will explain the nature of its work, how it is accomplished, etc. I am sure he will be glad to answer any questions you may ask. It is with great pleasure that I introduce Dr. Uel W. Lamkin, head of the Federal Board for Vocational Training."

Dr. Lamkin: "Mr. Commander and Members of The American Legion: I am very sure I am glad to come to you to-day and discuss very briefly one of the biggest and most complex problems that any government has ever undertaken. I am not coming here to hand