Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1919-09-19
Fifty Thousand Men To Receive
Training.


try, able to compete with other whole
men and to earn an independent income
for himself. The plan of the Federal Boart
for Vocational Education. which has thi:
work in hand, is broad one, and though
no actual figures are yet available. tits
likely that as many as $4,000 men who
served in the war will have to be re-edu.
Gated either vocationally or occupation.
ally.
Under this plan the Federal Board is
now working on what is practically four
year program, though appropriations so far
have been made only up to July, 1920.
In another month, it is promised, II 1000
men will be approved to 60 into immedi-
ate training with the opening for the fall
terms of the professional and technical
schools of the country.
The 10000 or $4,000 men disabled in
the service Of the country will all be placed
in training for various lines of activity,
and nearly all of them will have completed
work for vocational and occupational re-
Mobilization by the summer of 1928. By
far the majority of the men to be Teha-
bilitated will have finished their refrain
ing within year or two years, some OF
them in less than six months, and will be
back on their feet in that time in profess
sional and industrial ranks.
So far no provision has been made by
Congress for rehabilitating men whose dis
abilities do not amount to vocational or
occupational handicap. 1t is believed
possible by those best informed on recon-
struction legislation that Congress may
yet be asked to provide some means Of
compensatory training, as well as the
compensation that has already been paid
through the War Risk Bureau to men
who have simply suffered physical dis
abilities, without economic loss to them. in
their country's service. To carry out such
program, 1t is estimated the Federal Gov
eminent would have to expend upwards
of half billion dollars.
To date, the Vocational Education Board
has got in touch with some $4,000 men
and has interviewed 1l0,l35 soldiers. sail
ors and marines injured in service during
the war. The majority of these will not
be able to obtain retaining under the act
of Congress as it now stands, even with
recent amendments.
All of the men more than 10 per cent
disabled will receive pecuniary compensa-
sion to the extent to which they are dis
mean handicap to them in the occupa-
ton or vocation they followed, or in Ordi-
nary lines Of work, can be RETAINED and
fitted for new trade or profession. OF
those already interviewed 14,876 have
been approved for training and 1885 of
these have actually been placed in train
ing. Several thousand additional men will
have been approved by October and these,
with the men now waiting, will begin their
schooling when the schools reopen.
According to recent figures reported to
the Bureau of War Risk Insurance by the
army. 149, 433 men have been discharged
from service with disability.
"Only cases showing 10 per cent dis
ability have been reported" the repor
states. AT this rate it seems probable tina
the total number of cases Of disability re-
sulting from the war and entitled to (mOn
etary) compensation will be close to 200,
OO0."
To keep within the written law it is
necessary that certain evidence be gathered
from the military records and that the men
to be approved be physically examined
The board announces it is MAXIM the mos
liberal possible Interpretation OF all cases
coming before it. In many cases that de
not actually come within the law. bu
where the board believes something ought
to be done. it has used special funds given
it by patriotic organizations.
A central case board has been estab.
lshed in Washington to finally approve
all cases sent in by district boards. This
practice is necessary because the board is
operating under a budget system Of ex-
pense from Congress. This board reviews
on an average 1000 cases a day. The
majority Of these have to be rejected
| though, If more liberal law should be
passed by Congress in the future these
cases would be reopened and it is supposed
most of them would then be approved. The
documents and evidence in each case are
carefully preserved. so that the expense Of
obtaining them again will be minimized.
Should more liberal law authorize
training for such a group of men il is now
estimated ii would take at least $780,
| 100000 to meet the cost of their support.
tuition and text-book cost alone. Further
provision would have to be made for trav-
cling expenses of the men, medical atten-
ton and mechanical appliances and for
equipment and administration Of the
broader law. At present the board is pay
ing the tuition, travelling expenses, text
book cost. and other special expenses for
the men it approves. in addition to paying
500 to men with dependents and $50 a
month to men without dependents. and
family allowances to the former class.
The board must have the men examined
to find out the character Of the disability,
and many Of them are hard to get into
touch with after discharge. The board
has repeatedly warned the men still in
service that little forethought on their
part in securing beforehand the necessary
information will greatly reduce the time
il takes to deal with their cases.
Negro Polls Heavy Vote In Mary
land.
From the Washington Times, Sept. TO-