Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1919 — SOLDIERS WHO GET THIS $60 [ARTICLE]

SOLDIERS WHO GET THIS $60

Who Is Entitled to It and How to Proceed in the Matter. Washington, March 1. —In response to inquiry to Secretary Baker, Col. Kenzie W. Walker, assistant director of finance, in change of payment of the S6O bonus to soldiers, has prepared this official statement on the proper procedure in case of lone of discharge certificates and in other circumstances: “Certified copies of discharge certificates will not be accepted for the purpose of paying bonus. In case of lost discharge certificate of service Issued him by the adjutant general of the army. “Bonus will not be paid the following: •*1 —To any person who, though appointed or inducted into the military or naval forces on or prior to Nov. 11, 1918, had not reported for duty at his station ,on or prior to Such date; or "2 —To any person who has already received one month’s pay under the provisions of section 9 of the act entitled *!An act to authorize the president to increase temporarily the military establishment of the United States, approved May 18, 1917; or •*3—To any person who is entitled to retired pay; or ”4—To the heirs or legal representatives of any person entitled to any payment under this section who has died or may die before receiving such payment. “In explanation of the above the original discharge certificate is absolutely necessary for the reason that it is Intended to Indorse thereon the fact that the bonus has been paid. ' “There is no other method (that would not involve an enormous amount of bookkeeping) which would guarantee the government against duplicate payments. Soldiers may send in their discharge certificates with perfect confidence that they will be returned to them, pending certificates by registered mail if they prefer. . t “In case a soldier ‘has lost his discharge certiorate and has not a certificate of service Issued him by the adjutant general, he should at once make application to that official -to be furnished with such certificate.” Soldiers applying for the bonus will mail (preferably by registered letter) their discharge certificates, their written statement of when they enlisted, and when and where they were discharged, to “Zone Finance Officer, Lemon Building, Washington, D. C.” Marines will send the same to “Maj. Gen. Barnett, U. S. M. C., Washington, D. C.” Released members of the naval reserve force and men and women discharged from the regular navy and marine corps, also are Included in the house bill. No sailor with a dishonorable, bad conduct or undesirable discharge will be included. Sailors „ will send their claims, substantiated by their discharges or orders to inactive duty, to the disbursing officer, bureau' of navigation, Navy Department, Washington, D. C., for payment.