The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1919-07-09
Relief Bill Now
Up to Wilson
KENYON BILL INCREASES
MONTHLY TRAINING ALLOT-
MENT TO $50 OR MORE.

The Kenyon bill, increasing month
ily allowances to disabled soldiers who
are receiving rehabilitation training
from S65, the present allowance, to
from $50 to $1OO, awaits only Presi-
dent Wilson's signature to make it
law. It was framed after DIR. C. A.
Prosser OF Minneapolis. director of
Dunwoody Institute, and director OF
the Federal Board of Vocational Edu-
cation, had conferred on the matter
of allowances with Carter Glass, Sc
cretary Of the treasury, and the Bu-
Complications IN the laws relating
to disabled fighters have hitherto
worked great hardships on them. I'm
der the original Federal Board War
Risk Insurance bills, any soldier, sail
or or marine who. because of disabili-
ties, wanted to learn new trade or
occupations had first to file a claim
for compensation with the War Risk
Insurance bureau Until that claim
had been acted on, he was unable to
start IN on his new training.
Suppose it was cited, that John
Jones had lost his right arm in the
fighting in the Argonne forest. Re
turning to civil life, found himself
unable to follow his old calling of
bookkeeper. Perhaps he wanted to
become an architect or a scientific
farmer. The Federal Board for Vo-
cational Education stood ready to
send him to Harvard, Cornell or Col
unbia university and rehabilitate him
but the board could not do anything
until the War Risk Insurance bureau
had decided just what compensation
John Jones should get. The War Risk
bureau might award him $50 month
and in that event, the Federal board
would add S35, making the total S65.
These formalities took much time
and conditions finally became such
that thousands of disabled men were
waiting for a new education in or
der to resume business careers. DIR.
Prosser, director Of the federal board
finally affected an arrangement with
Secretary Glass and the War Risk In
surance bureau by which the Kenyon
bill was framed.
This measure provides that when a
disabled fighter wants to fit himself
for new work in life he can apply
direct to the Federal Board for Voca-
tional Education, in Washington, or to
any Of its district offices in IA cities.
The Federal board surveys his case
and if his claims are found as stated
he Immediately is given vocational
training
Friends Of disabled fighters say that
even with an allowance of $50 to 500
a month while in training, they are not
receiving *noagh.
The people. Of the United States
should never forget their disabled
Fighters" said DR.. Prosser. 81 do not
believe they ever will forget them
The disabled fighter usually is very
quiet, unassertive chap. For some
reason or other he will never ask fol
help of his own volition. Generally
he is inclined to view himself as 8
down and-outer. This he should nev.
er be permitted to do.
"On the other hand, when dis
abled man has finished course of vo-
cational training and found that he il
a bread-Winner, and that fate has not
RELOCATED him to a back seat in the
activities of life, he comes back with
more of punch than ever. What we
want to do right now is to help oul
disabled fighters to help themselves
'sThen, too, as an economic propo
sition, is it not better to fit disabled
soldier. sailor ormarine for new Worl
/ in life, than to offer pity and senC
| him to some institution where he would
become a burden to himself and hi!
country? Vocational training offers
new fields to our disabled men,