The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-02-26
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
DEPARTMENT FOR RETURNED
SOLDIERS.

feueIat1on OF ASSOCIATIONS for Grip
l7!es. 81 Fourth Avenue, New York,
Feb. 20. -[Editor, The West Virgin
ianl-The soldier returning to the
United States after service overseas
needs volcnlinous guide book to In
form him regarding his rights and
privileges and to direct his regarding
the particular government depart
ments or bureaus to which he should
apply.
In the case of the wounded soldier.
Tor example, there are in all seven in
dtvldual government branches With
which no may or may not be concern
ed IN his return to civil life: the Of
lice Of the Surgeon-G General Of the
Army, the Bureau Of Medicine and
Surgery OF the Navy, the Bureau Of
War Risk Insurance, the u. s.. Public
Health Service, the Federal Board OF
vocationa! Education, the U. s. EN-.
ployment Service Of the Department
OF Labor, aId the Department Of the
interior. From the various organiza,
lions IN s'iis roster he will receive
medical treatment and educational ai !.
yaptages prior to discharge, award Of
pension for disability, provision OF
artificial limbs, medical care after
military discharge, training for a new
occupation, placement In q lob. or set
aement on tie land. His social after.
care will be provided by still another
semi-goyern.nental agency, the Amer
lean Red Cross.
There are, to be sure, Cooperative
arrangements between the various
administrative branches. But there is
no head, No one authority upon whom
ran be pinned responsibility for de.
lays or defects in the discharge Of ma
tsonal obligation to the return man.
no one authority who can be credited
for the Job we'll done 3
/ II returned soldier has difficulties
now it is y easy to pass on responsi-
Utility. 1--WE are ready to act, but must
wait on another department which is
behind In It's work. We can take. care
LOT one Of your three needs, but re-
garding the others you must mako ap
Eplication to such and such an agency.
and have the papers forwarded to
Washington for action" s!lchl stu.
atoms can hardly be criticized, how
ever, under tne present arrangements.
| Other countries have faced the same
problem, ana several Of the younger
nations with considerable flexibility in
/ sneir legislative system, have solved
lit by the establishment Of a single de-
lpartment to deal with all the interests
of the returned soldier.
In Australia, for example, there. has
Ibeen established the Department. Of
Repatriation" with a minister In the
cabinet. This department which deals
with the soldiers re.establishment in
civil life, has Teen described as the
connecting link between military SER
Twice and the outside world.
4 The Australian. repatriation orsani:
cation awards pensions, offers re-edu;
cation to the disabled, places men il
employment, promotes land settlement
provision, manufacturers artificial
limbs, ell through the medium OF 10.
cal committees which are the only
official bureaus with which the In
divtdual soldier comes in contact.
In Canada the interests Of all re;
turned soldiers are covered by the
newly created Department Of Soldiers
Civil ablishment, which has alb.
sorbed both the Board Of Peneson
n Commissioners and the 1nYalided Sci.
oilers Commission. The department Is
also concerned with the broad problem
,of Rehabilitation, employment OF dis:
charged soldiers. and so forth. For dis.
labled men 1t provides vocational re-
education, artificial limbs, medical
\ treatment after discharge. pensions,
and training allowances. The depart.
ment has a minister in the cabinet.
The third country to make such q
move Is New Zealand, where there has
Ibeen introduced in parliament g repa-
trfation bill placing under q single adj
ADMINISTRATION re-emplo land set
Element, curative treatment and 70,
lcational training for returned soldiers
Have we anything to learn from
lthese three consecutive moves il
injecting the ex-soldier problem!
DOUGLAS G. McMURTRIE.
President, Federation OF Associations
for Crirples.
New York. February 20. 1919.
B. =