World War Adjusted Compensation Act - 1924
May 19, 1924. [H R. 7959] [Public, No. 120.] CHAP. 157.
An Act To provide adjusted compensation for veterans of the World War, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I.-DEFINITIONS.
SECTION 1 This Act may be cited as the "World War Adjusted Compensation Act."
SEC. 2. As used in this Act-
(a) The term "veteran" includes any individual, a member of the military or naval forces of the United States at any time after April 5, 1917, and before November 12, 1918; but does not include (1) any individual at any time during such period or thereafter separated from such forces under other than honorable conditions, (2) any conscientious objector who performed no military duty whatever or refused to wear the uniform, or (3) any alien at any time during such period or thereafter discharged from the military or naval forces on account of his alienage;
(b) The term “ oversea service ” means service on shore m Europe or Asia, exclusive of China, Japan, and the Philippine Islands ; and service afloat, not on receiving ships ; including in either case the period from the date of embarkation for such service to the date of disembarkation on return from such service, both dates inclusive ;
(c) The term “home service77 means all service not oversea service ;
(d) The term “ adjusted service credit” means the amount of the credit computed under the provisions of Title II: and
The term “person” includes a partnership, corporation, association, as well as an individual.
Title II.—Adjusted Service Credit.
Sec. 201. The amount of adjusted service credit shall be computed by allowing the following sums for each day of active service, in excess of sixty days, in the military or naval forces of the United States after April 5,1917, and before July 1, 1919, as shown by the service or other record of the veteran : $1.25 for each day of oversea service, and $1 for each day of home service ; but the amount of the credit of a veteran who performed no oversea service shall not exceed $500, and the amount of the credit of a veteran who performed any oversea service shall not exceed $625.
Sec. 202. In computing the adjusted service credit no allowance shall be made to—
a. Any commissioned officer above the grade of captain in the Army or Marine Corps, lieutenant in the Navy, first lieutenant or first lieutenant of engineers in the Coast Guard, or passed assistant surgeon in the Public Health Service, or having the pay and allowances, if not the rank, of any officer superior in rank to any of such grades—in each case for the period of service as such ;
b. Any individual holding a permanent or provisional commission or permanent or acting warrant in any branch of the military or naval forces, or (while holding such commission or warrant) serving under a temporary commission in a higher grade—in each case for the period of service under such commission or warrant or in such higher grade after the accrual of the right to pay thereunder. This subdivision shall not apply to any noncommissioned officer ;
c. Any civilian officer or employee of any branch of the military or naval forces, contract surgeon, cadet of the United States Military Academy, midshipman, cadet or cadet engineer of the Coast Guard, member of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, member of the Students’ Army Training Corps (except an enlisted man detailed thereto), Philippine Scout, member of the Philippine Guard, member of the Philippine Constabulary, member of the National Guard of Hawaii, member of the insular force of the Navy, member of the Samoan native guard and band of the Navy, or Indian Scout— in each case for the period of service as such ;
d. Any individual entering the military or naval forces after November 11, 1918—for any period after such entrance;
e. Any commissioned or warrant officer performing home service not with troops and receiving commutation of quarters or of subsistence—for the period of such service ;
f. Any member of the Public Health Service—for any period during which he was not detailed for duty with the Army or the Navy;
g. Any individual granted a farm or industrial furlough—for the period of such furlough ;
h. Any individual detailed for work on roads or other construction or repair work—for the ' period during which his pay was equalized to conform to the compensation paid to civilian employees in the same or like employment, pursuant to the provisions of section 9 of the Act entitled “An Act making appropriations for the service of the Post Office Department for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, and for other purposes,” approved February 28, 1919; or
i. Any individual who was discharged or otherwise released from the draft—for the period of service terminating with such discharge or release.
Sec. 203.
(a) The periods referred to in subdivision (e) of section 202 may be included in the case of any individual if and to the extent that the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy jointly find that such service subjected such individual to exceptional hazard. A full statement of all action under this subdivision shall be included in the reports of the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy required by section 307.
b. In computing the credit to any veteran under this title effect shall be given to all subdivisions of section 202 which are applicable.
c. If part of the service is oversea service and part is home service, the home service shall first be used in computing the sixty days’ period referred to in section 201.
d. For the purpose of computing the sixty days’ period referred to in section 201, any period of service after April 5, 1917, and before July 1, 1919, in the military or naval forces in any capacity may be included, notwithstanding allowance of credit for such period, or a part thereof, is prohibited under the provisions of section 202, except that the periods referred to in subdivisions (b), (c), and (d) of that section shall not be included.
e. For the purposes of section 201, in the case of members of the National Guard or of the National Guard Reserve called into service by the proclamation of the President dated July 3, 1917, the time of sendee between the date of call into the service as specified in such proclamation and August 5, 1917, both dates inclusive, shall be deemed to be active service in the military or naval forces of the United States.
Title III.—General Provisions.
BENEFITS GRANTED VETERANS.
Sec. 301. Each veteran shall be entitled :
1. To receive “adjusted service pay” as provided in Title IV, if the amount of his adjusted service credit is $50 or less;
2. To receive an “ adjusted service certificate ” as provided in Title V, if the amount of his adjusted service credit is more than $50.
APPLICATION BY VETERAN.
Sec. 302.
(a) A veteran may receive the benefits to which he is entitled by filing an application claiming the benefits of this Act with the Secretary of War, if he is serving in, or his last service was with, the military forces; or with the Secretary of the Navy, if he is serving in, or his last service was with, the naval forces.
b. Such application shall be made on or before January 1, 1928, and if not made on or before such date shall be held void.
c. An application shall be made (1) personally by the veteran, or (2) in case physical or mental incapacity prevents the making of a personal application, then by such representative of the veteran and in such manner as the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly by regulation prescribe. An application made by a representative other than one authorized by any such regulation shall be held void.
(d) The Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy shall jointly make any regulations necessary to the efficient administration of the provisions of this section.
TRANSMITTAL OF APPLICATION.
Sec. 303. (a) As soon as practicable after the receipt of a valid application the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy, as the case may be, shall transmit to the Director of the United States Veterans’ Bureau (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the “ Director ”) the application and a certificate setting forth—
(1) That the applicant is a veteran;
(2) His name and address;
(3) The date and place of his birth ; and
(4) The amount of his adjusted service credit together with the facts of record in his department upon which such above conclusions
are based.
(b) Upon receipt of such certificate the Director shall proceed to extend to the veteran the benefits provided for in Title IV or V
PUBLICITY.
Sec. 304.
(a) The Director shall, as soon as practicable after the enactment of this Act, prepare and publish a pamphlet or pamphlets containing a digest and explanation of the provisions of this Act; and shall from time to time thereafter prepare and publish such additional or supplementary information as may be found necessary.
(b) The publications provided for in subdivision (a) shall be distributed in such manner as the Director may determine to be most effective to inform veterans and their dependents of their rights under this Act.
STATISTICS.
Sec. 305. Immediately upon the enactment of this Act the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy shall ascertain the individuals who are veterans as defined in section 2, and, as to each veteran, the number of days of oversea service and of home service, as defined in section 2, for which he is entitled to receive adjusted service credit, and their findings shall not be subject to review by the General Accounting Office, and payments made by disbursing officers of the United States Veterans’ Bureau made in accordance with such findings shall be passed to their credit.
ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS.
Sec. 306. Any officer charged with any function under this Act shall make such regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, as may be necessary to the efficient administration of such function.
REPORTS.
Sec. 307. Any officer charged with the administration of any part of this Act shall make a full report to Congress on the first Monday of December of each year as to his administration thereof.
EXEMPTION FROM ATTACHMENT AND TAXATION.
Sec. 308. No sum payable under this Act to a veteran or his dependents, or to his estate, or to any beneficiary named under Title Y, no adjusted service certificate, and no proceeds of any loan made on such certificate, shall be subject to attachment, levy, or seizure under any legal or equitable process, or to National or State taxation.
UNLAWFUL FEES.
Sec. 309. Any person who charges or collects, or attempts to charge or collect, either directly or indirectly, any fee or other compensation for assisting in any manner a veteran or his dependents in obtaining any of the benefits, privileges, or loans to which he is entitled under the provisions of this Act shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine of not more than $500, or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.
Title IV.—Adjusted Service Pay.
Sec. 401. There shall be paid to each veteran by the Director (as soon as practicable after receipt of an application in accordance with the provisions of section 302, but not before March 1, 1925), in addition to any other amounts due such veteran in pursuance of law, the amount of his adjusted service credit, if, and only if, such credit is not more than $50.
Sec. 402. No right to adjusted service pay under the provisions of this title shall be assignable or serve as security for any loan. Any assignment or loan made in violation of the provisions of this section shall be held void. Except as provided in Title VI, the Director shall not pay the amount of adjusted service pay to any person other than the veteran or such representative of the veteran as he shall by regulation prescribe.
Title V.—Adjusted Service Certificates.
Sec. 501. The Director, upon certification from the Secretary of War or the Secretary of the Navy, as provided in section 303, is hereby directed to issue without cost to the veteran designated therein a non-participating adjusted service certificate (hereinafter in this title referred to as a “ certificate ”) of a face value equal to the amount in dollars of 20-year endowment insurance that the amount of his adjusted service credit increased by 25 per centum would purchase, at his age on his birthday nearest the date of the certificate, if applied as a net single premium, calculated in accordance with accepted actuarial principles and based upon the American Experience Table of Mortality and interest at 4 per centum per annum, compounded annually. The certificate shall be dated, and all rights conferred under the provisions of this title shall take effect, as of the 1st day of the month in which the application is filed, but in no case before January 1, 1925. The veteran shall name the beneficiary of the certificate and may from time to time, with the approval of the Director, change such beneficiary. The amount of the face value of the certificate (except as provided in subdivisions (c), (d), (e), and (f) of section 502) shall be payable out of the fund created by section 505
(1) to the veteran twenty years after the date of the certificate, or
(2) upon the death of the veteran prior to the expiration of such twenty-year period, to the beneficiary named; except that if such beneficiary dies before the veteran and no new beneficiary is named, or if the beneficiary in the first instance has not yet been named, the amount of the face value of the certificate shall be paid to the estate of the veteran. If the veteran dies after making application under section 302, but before January 1, 1925, then the amount of the face value of the certificate shall be paid in the same manner as if his death had occurred after January 1, 1925.
LOAN PRIVILEGES.
Sec. 502.
(a) A loan may be made to a veteran upon his adjusted service certificate only in accordance with the provisions of this section.
(b) Any national bank, or any bank or trust company incorporated under the laws of any State, Territory, possession, or the District of Columbia (hereinafter in this section called “ bank ”), is authorized, after the expiration of two years after the date of the certificate, to loan to any veteran upon his promissory note secured by his adjusted service certificate (with or without the consent of the beneficiary thereof) any amount not in excess of the loan basis (as defined in subdivision (g) of this section) of the certificate. The rate of interest charged upon the loan by the bank shall not exceed, by more than 2 per centum per annum, the rate charged at the date of the loan for the discount of 90-day commercial paper under section 13 of the Federal Reserve Act by the Federal reserve bank for the Federal reserve district in which the bank is located. Any bank holding a note for a loan under this section secured by a certificate (whether the bank originally making the loan or a bank to which the note and certificate have been transferred) may sell the note to, or discount or rediscount it with, any bank authorized to make a loan to a veteran under this section and transfer the certificate to such bank. Upon the indorsement of any bank, which shall be deemed a waiver of demand, notice, and protest by such bank as to its own indorsement exclusively, and subject to regulations to be prescribed by the Federal Reserve Board, any such note secured by a certificate and held by a bank shall be eligible for discount or rediscount by the Federal reserve bank for the Federal reserve district in which the bank is located. Such note shall be. eligible for discount or rediscount whether or not the bank offering the note for discount or rediscount is a member of the Federal Reserve System ; nd whether or not it acquired the note in the first instance from the veteran or acquired it by transfer upon the indorsement of any other bank. Such note shall not be eligible for discount or rediscount unless it has at the time of discount or rediscount a maturity not in excess of nine months exclusive of days of grace. The rate of interest charged by the Federal reserve bank shall be the same as that charged by it for the discount or rediscount of 90-day notes drawn for commercial purposes. The Federal Reserve Board is authorized to permit, or on the affirmative vote of at least five members of the Federal Reserve Board to
require, a Federal reserve bank to rediscount, for any other Federal reserve bank, notes secured by a certificate. The rate of interest for such rediscounts shall be fixed by the Federal Reserve Board. In case the note is sold, discounted, or rediscounted the bank making the transfer shall promptly notify the veteran by mail at his last known post-office address.
(c) If the veteran does not pay the principal and interest of the loan upon its maturity, the bank holding the note and certificate may, at any time after maturity of the loan but not before the expiration of six months after the loan was made, present them to the Director. The Director may, in his discretion, accept the certificate and note, cancel the note (but not the certificate), and pay the bank, in full satisfaction of its claim, the amount of the unpaid principal due it, and the unpaid interest accrued, at the rate fixed in the note, up to the date of the check issued to the bank. The Director shall restore to the veteran, at any time prior to its maturity, any certificate so accepted, upon receipt from him of an amount equal to the sum of (1) the amount paid by the United States to the bank in cancellation of his note, plus (2) interest on such amount from the time of such payment to the date of such receipt, at 6 per centum per annum, compounded annually.
d. If the veteran fails to redeem his certificate from the Director before its maturity, or before the death of the veteran, the Director shall deduct from the face value of the certificate (as determined in section 501) an amount equal to the sum of (1) the amount paid by the United States to the bank on account of the note of the veteran, plus (2) interest on such amount from the time of such payment to the date of maturity of the certificate or of the death of the veteran, at the rate of 6 per centum per annum, compounded annually, and shall pay the remainder in accordance with the provisions of section 501.
e. If the veteran dies before the maturity of the loan, the amount of the unpaid principal and the unpaid interest accrued up to the date of his death shall be immediately due and payable. In such case, or if the veteran dies on the day the loan matures or within six months thereafter, the bank holding the note and certificate shall, upon notice of the death, present them to the Director, who shall thereupon cancel the note (but not the certificate) and pay to the bank, in full satisfaction of its claim, the amount of the unpaid principal and unpaid interest, at the rate fixed in the note, accrued up to the date of the check issued to the bank ; except that if , prior to the payment, the hank is notified of the death by the Director and fails to present the certificate and note to the Director within fifteen days after the notice, such interest shall be only up to the fifteenth day after such notice. The Director shall deduct the amount so paid from the face value (as determined under section 501) of the certificate and pay the remainder in accordance with the provisions of section 501.
f. If the veteran has not died before the maturity of the certificate, and has failed to pay his note to the bank or the Federal reserve bank holding the note and certificate, such bank shall, at the maturity of the certificate, present the note and certificate to the Director, who shall thereupon cancel the note (but not the certificate) and pay to the bank, in full satisfaction of its claim, the amount of the unpaid principal and unpaid interest, at the rate fixed in the note, accrued up to the date of the maturity of the certificate. The Director shall deduct the amount so paid from the face value (as determined in section 501) of the certificate and pay the remainder in accordance with the provisions of section 501.
g. The loan basis of any certificate at any time shall, for the purpose of this section, be an amount which is not in excess of 90 per centum of the reserve value of the certificate on the last day of the current certificate year. The reserve value of a certificate on the last day of any certificate year shall be the full reserve required on such certificate, based on an annual level net premium for twenty years and calculated in accordance with the American Experience Table of Mortality and interest at 4 per centum per annum, compounded annually.
(h) No payment upon any note shall be made under this section by the Director to any bank, unless the note when presented to him is accompanied by an affidavit made by an officer of the bank which made the loan, before a notary public or other officer designated for the purpose by regulation of the Director, and stating that such bank has not charged or collected, or attempted to charge or collect, directly or indirectly, any fee or other compensation (except interest as authorized by this section) in respect of any loan made under this section by the bank to a veteran. Any bank which, or director, officer, or employee thereof who, does so charge, collect, or attempt to charge or collect any such fee or compensation, shall be liable to the veteran for a penalty of $100, to be recovered in a civil suit brought by the veteran. The Director shall upon request of any bank or veteran furnish a blank form for such affidavit.
Sec. 503. No certificate issued or right conferred under the provisions of this title shall, except as provided in section 502, be negotiable or assignable or serve as security for a loan. Any negotiation, assignment, or loan made in violation of any provision of this section shall be held void.
Sec. 504. Any certificate issued under the provisions of this title shall have printed upon its face the conditions and terms upon which it is issued and to which it is subject, including loan values under section 502.
ADJUSTED SERVICE CERTIFICATE FUND.
Sec. 505. There is hereby created a fund in the Treasury of the United States to be known as “The Adjusted Service Certificate Fund”, hereinafter in this title called “fund”. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated for each calendar year (beginning with the calendar year 1925 and ending with the calendar year 1946) an amount sufficient as an annual premium to provide for the payment of the face value of each adjusted service certificate in twenty years from its date or on the prior death of the veteran, such amount to be determined in accordance with accepted actuarial principles and based upon the American Experience Table of Mortality and interest at 4 per centum per annum, compounded annually. The amounts so appropriated shall be set aside in the fund on the first day of the calendar year for which appropriated. The appropriation for the calendar year 1925 shall not be in excess of $100,000,000.
Sec. 506. The Secretary of the Treasury is authorized to invest and reinvest the moneys in the fund, or any part thereof, in interest- bearing obligations of the United States and to sell such obligations of the United States for the purposes of the fund. The interest on and the proceeds from the sale of any such obligations shall become a part of the fund.
Sec. 507. All amounts in the fund shall be available for payment, by the Director, of adjusted service certificates upon their maturity or the prior death of the veteran, and for payments under section 502 to banks on account of notes of veterans.
"H.R. 7959, Public No. 120, 19 May 1924, Chapter 157: An Act to Provide Adjusted Compensation for Veterans of the World War, and for Other Purposes." in Sixty-Eighth Congress. Session I., Chapter 157., 1924, ppp. 121-128.
