MILITIA. 843

of Maryland, who are or may be entitled to aid from the United States
Government pursuant to Federal Legislation for the benefit of veterans
and their dependents, in preparing and presenting their claims to the
proper Federal authorities and agencies, and in securing and expediting
action thereon. The Commission shall use its efforts to relieve and prevent
congestion of such claims, and cause, as far as possible, every veteran and
dependents of any veteran, to receive promptly and regularly the maxi-
mum relief and benefit to which they are, or may become entitled to, under
the Federal law.

The words "veterans" and "ex-service men and women" as used in this
section include any individual who served on active duty in time of War,
Campaign or Expedition, in the Army, Navy, or Marine Corps of the
United States, and who has received an honorable discharge from such
service.

The Maryland Veterans Commission shall have authority to appoint an
officer who shall be known as "State Service Officer, " with the approval of
the Governor, and such assistants as may be found necessary, to administer
the disbursement of such direct Relief Funds as the Budget may provide,
and to prepare in proper form and present and prosecute the claims of ex-
service men and women and their dependents, with the United States
Veterans Administration and other Federal agencies, and to secure and
expedite action on said claims. It shall be the duty of the State Service
Officer to keep in contact with the United States Veterans Administration,
so that the status of any claim shall be known at any time; to continue to
survey the State, in order that no veterans or their dependents may be
neglected and to perform such other duties as the Commission may direct.
The State Service Officer, and such other employees as the Commission
may deem necessary, shall be compensated as provided by the Commission,
within the limits of the Budgetary allowances for the administration of
veterans' affairs, and shall be paid actual and necessary traveling expenses
while engaged in the performance of such duties as the Commission may
authorize and direct.

The Maryland Veterans Commission shall make and preserve a per-
manent registry of the graves of all persons who served in the Military
or Naval forces of the United States in time of war and who are buried in
the State of Maryland. ¹

¹ Sec. 2, ch. 481. acts of 1935, repealed all laws inconsistent therewith to extent
of such inconsistency.