652 LAWS OF MARYLAND. [CH. 291

be entitled to aid from the United States Government pur-
suant 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 secur-
ing 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 de-
pendents of any Veteran, to receive promptly and regularly
the maximum 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 appoint an officer
who shall be known as "State Service Officer", and such as-
sistants as may be found necessary, to administer the dis-
bursement 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 Offi-
cer to keep in contact with the United States Veterans Ad-
ministration, 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 per-
form such other duties as the Commission may direct. The
State Service Officer, and such other employees as the Com-
mission may deem necessary, shall be compensated as provided
by the Commission, within the limits of the Budgetary allow-
ances for the administration of Veterans⁷ affairs, and shall be
paid actual and necessary traveling expenses while engaged in
the performance of such duties as the Commission may au-
thorize and direct.

The Maryland Veterans Commission shall make and pre-
serve a permanent 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.

SEC. 2. And be it further enacted, That all laws or parts
of laws inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, be and
they are hereby repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

Approved May 24, 1939.