The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-07

gan 10 ask questions they found that they
were not at all on the same basis as
the regulars. There was a lot Of talk
and dissatisfaction about II over there.
when I got to Washington, to the
Walter Reed Hospital. soon found that
the worst we had imagined was not as
bad as the reality. Under the compen-
sation laws all are paid alike. and the
limit for total disability is $50 for an
unmarried man without dependents. The
pay figured on. the $40. is the war pay
Of a private In the army. All OF what
ever rank are therefore denoted to that
grade. But for the Regular Army there
Is another set OF laws.
when was discharged from the hos
pital I was examined by the board and
found 20 per cent. disabled. My leg did
not account for all of that, as my eyes
are also bad. This entities me to $50
month while I am unable to work, while
am getting new leg, apd sal month
when j am able to work again. But no
matter what the length of service. II
had been in the Regular Army / would
have been retired with the grade OF
Second Lieutenant and the monthly pay
of S1o6.26. Since served in the ma
tional army. a civilian doing military
duty in time of war, I am penalized the
difference between S106.26 and S21.
Distinctions Not Abolished.
THE announcement that the distinc-
tions between the National Guard Ma
| tionsl Army. the Reserve Corps and the
Regular Army had been abolished is un-
| true. So far as the requirements or
responsibility are concerned they have
| been. but the compensation for injuries
received has never been made the same.
Thus when a civilian who responded to
his country's call is injured he finds that
| he Is Disseminated against at the time
| when he least expected 1t and when he
is least able to help himself.
The compensation law Is now re-
garded by the wounded men as a fraud
put forward to deceive them. The hos
pitfalls are full of talk against It.
Naturally, through fear Of court-martial,
there Is none against tho Regular Army.
which Is benefiting by the fraud. But
at the time men enlisted. before any
thing was known about the law. they
had confidence in the nation. believing
that wise and just provision was being
made for them. A mere statement Of
the facts shows that this is FALSE Re-
gardless of the amount being given,
there should be no difference between
the amounts given the Regular Army
and those given the civilian army.
Civilians won the war Figures in
Gen. Crowders office, given me by one
in that office. show that OF the Regular
! Army officers only IS per cent. went
overseas. OF this number, of course.
few saw the front If the civilian Of
| ficer and soldier won the war. there
should certainly not be this discrimina-
ton against them, which disgusts every
man who went and realizes the con-
dition. This Is supposed to be a demo-
cratic country. the army should be a
democratic army, with no privileged
class. And also. IL rank is necessary in
the field, why abolish 1t by law in maxi
| ing compensation?
Pay I'm France.
"In France, where the cost Of living
is much less than here. the private SOL
der who is retired for wounds receives
between $26 and $40 a month"; while an
OFFICER receives at least double that
amount, and there Is no distinction be-
! tween Regular Army and civilian army
In the matter OF pensions. OF course all
able bodied men are members of the
army or reserve. but we have a reserve
in this country which Is not on the
basis of the Regular Army"
| The one exception to the rule. by
which an unmarried man with no
children or dependents can get more
than $50 month for total disability,
is provided for in the following section:
! III he Is totally disabled and in ad-
dition so helpless as to be in constan,
need OF nurse or attendant, such ad-
ditional sum shall be paid. but not ex-
lceeding $40 per month. as the director
may deem reasonable: Provided. how
| ever, that for the loss of both feet OF
both hands or both eyes. OF for becom-
ing totally blind. or becoming helpless
and permanently bedridden from causes
occurring in the line of the duty in the
service of the United States. the rate
OF compensation shall be 800 pei
month Provided further. that where
the ratio of compensation Is 800 q
| month. no allowance shall be made for a
nurse or attendant"
Even that Is less than a provisional
Second Lieutenant would get for the
loss OF hand
Almost any officer either OF the Ma
tional Army. National Guard or Regular
Army admits the injustice of many OF
the provisions of the law which bring
about this condition. A Regular Army
| officer, a Colonel, TO whom the distinc-
ton was pointed out. said:
That Is undoubtedly unfair and a
serious discrepancy in the law. 1t should
be remedied in some way and ] firmly
believe that when the rest OF these men
get back It will be. 1t is too glazing to
be overlooked"
nvkmau,s Onfntnu