El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-06-16
Of
MANNED MEN
Congress Proposes to Re
store Men Broken in
Ordinary Industries.

! L
army reconstruction hospitals have
shown how the manned. the human
wreckage Of war. can be gathered in
from the battlefields and taught new
lines OF work in which they can be
self supporting, independent members
Of society. and with a new apprecia-
ton of life and its opportunities be-
cause they have overcome great
physical handicaps.
Just so, it is proposed that the vic
tins OF at least 100000 casualties in
industries every year shall be made
over, rehabilitated. saIvaged from the
junk heap and restored to community
usefulness and to Individual happi-
ness and independence.
1t is proposed by congress TO utilize
the machinery now functioning for
disabled soldiers in this permanent
peace time effort TO conserve human
life and energy. which is more valu-
able than any machinery. The plan
is to carry this work forward by
federal and state governments CO.
operating in practically the same way
as vocational education is being
spread
Many Industrial Accidents.
The annual grist of disabled in this
country as a result of industrial &C
cidents exceeds the casualties Of an
army Of 100000 men engaged in
active hostilities. This has been go
ing on year after year.
Representative William B Bank
head, Of Alabama, has reintroduced
his bill providing for the promotion
of vocational rehabilitation of persons
injured in industry and their return
TO civil employment. In the last con-
gress this same bill was fathered in
the senate by senator Hoke Smith. Of
Georgia. and joint hearings were held.
at which labor leaders. manufactur-
ers' associations. surgeons and hu-
manitarians Endorsed i. 1t received
an unanimous report. without a dis
senting voice having been raised
against it.
This measure IS now before the
house committee on education
The Bankhead-Smith bill contem-
plates activity on the same principle
as the Smith-Lever bin, the original
vocational education measure. The
main purpose Of federal action is to
get the benefits Of federal aspiration
and leadership. The main burden of
activity will be placed on the state
authorities.
To Appropriates 100000 to States.
Provision is made for a federal ap-
preparation Of 100000 as an organi-
states in the proportion that their
population bears to the total popula-
ton OF the country.
Representative Bankhead. IN rein
Producing his bill, said today that TIE
work of the British government in
reeducating wounded soldiers shows
the net earning capacity after re-
training. even in their handicapped
condition. averages 100 percent more
than in normal condition. And we
are confident that this will be the
record that can be shown when con-
gress authorizes the reeducation Of
our industrial accident victims" said
Mr.. Bankhead. The measure will be
pushed at this session"
President FavOrs Measure.
President Wilson is an earnest ad-
vocate of this measure He has said.
important and as essential, as the
army Of fighting men in the far
fields Of actual battle"
Samuel Gompers. president OF the
American Federation of Labor. is Civ
ing his active support and says,
Here is an opportunity to bring into
the field Of productive service the
men who have been injured in indus
Try I do not know that there could
be anything more economical and
mors human, as well as more patri@
cite nd far sighted"
John Mitchell. former head OF the
mine workers, says: We are casting
valuable Workers needlessly on the
scrspheap. in my experience as
chairman OF the New York industrial
which administers the
workmen's compensation law, I am
brought face to fac every day WIKI
the tragic consequences Of our failure
to make some provision Tor restoring
to economic usefulness. self assurance
and renewed interest in living those
victims Of industry whose injuries
have MANNED or disabled them beyond
possibility OF returning to their usual
occupa tons"