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Show Legion Convention Delegates Told Ail1. Advocates Changes In System To Care For Disabled Veterans v Community Service was the theme of the fall convention of District 9 of the American Legion Leg-ion and Auxiliary that convened at Altamont High School, with the Altonah post as the host. It was a very successful convention, conven-tion, announced William (Bill) Murdock, district commander, who conducted the convention's proceedings. The assembled delegates were greeted and addressed by department de-partment leaders and made plans for special programs on a post level to honor returning I Korean veterans at a banquet. Meetings of the Auxiliary were conducted by Mrs. JoAnne Tolboe, of Myton, district president. presi-dent. Earl Chandler, national American Amer-ican Legion field representative, j from Boise, Idaho, told Legionnaires Legion-naires and Auxiliary members that it was unfortunate that recent re-cent action of the heads of the American Medical Association has caused strained relations between that organization and the American Legion. Chandler stated that for many years these two great organizations fought hand in hand in opposition to socialized medicine, and that un- til recent months they were in basic agreement on the present ! system of caring for the disabled . j veterans of this country, who required medical attention in the veterans hospitals. The AMA now wants Congress Con-gress to change the basic law which now provides free hospital hos-pital care in veterans hospitals if their disabilities are a result of service, or if they have other oth-er conditions requiring hospital treatment and cannot pay for the care in private hospitals. Chandler explained that the latter lat-ter group can be admitted only after they sign a statement to , the effect that they cannot pay, and then only if the veterans hospital to which they apply,! has a vacant bed available, which is not needed for service-connected service-connected cases. Chandler stated that the majority ma-jority of the people who understand under-stand the present system of caring car-ing for the needs of our veterans veter-ans agree that those who are suffering from mental disabilities, disabili-ties, T B, and long term illnesses, illness-es, who' cannot pay for their care, must be cared for at public expense. The American Legion feels the present system is the best that has yet been suggested. If the AMA or anyone else can present a better plan, the Legion Leg-ion would be the first to support it. Fortunately the very few who may be taking advantage of the present system are by far in the minority; however, they are the ones causing criticism of the program which has been in effect ef-fect for many, many years. The Legion believes any necessary changes in the present system can be accomplished administratively adminis-tratively and will not endorse any change in the basic law. |
