The sun., 1919-09-19
VOCATIONAL BOARD
SEEN AS FAILURE
Only 1898 Of 100000 Dis
sbled Soldiers Placed in
Training Last June.

The Amerioan Legion Weekly, the
official magazine Of the American
Legion. began in ttA issue Of to-day the
publication Of two articles based on an
Investigation Of the Federal Board for
Vocational Education. The first article
charges that the Government has failed
to keep its promises to disabled vet
Grams Of the war. even though the bill
when passed by Congress carried with
II an appropriation Ct many millions
Of dollars. The article says.
up to June % the board. with 1855
salaried employees, had placed in train
ing only 3,s23 OF the 230, 900 Americans
disabled durtnS tina war. On June III
only IL men. on graduation from their
training. had been placed in gainfui
occupations by ths board. On July IL
the amended act, with the principal de-
fects OF the old Law eliminated. became
effective. Since that time the board
has been able to show an apprectable
increase in men actually started in
training but only a gain OF ~ Tor
trained men at work. On August J
the number in training was 5,sl2 and
the number graduated and at work had
risen 70 16. Washington Office figures
for September 4 gave the number In
training as s,699 and trained men in
Jobs as 81. Disabled men placed IN
employment with no training or incom-
plete training numbered l6,4I0. OF
this number, however, i2,s20 were
seIf-placed,' which means that they
went out and got their own Jobs. leav-
ing only ass: actually helped by the
board to get work
THE history OF this deliberately con-
stituted organization, which with mill
lions at its disposal has been charged
with the task of rehabilita ting disabled
soldiers, and by training and reeduca-
ton enabling them to resume se!f-sup-
porting stations In society, il black
record Thesmen who gave most have
received least from a grateful nation
The article also charges that some
times as long a time as six montns
slapse between the discharge OF the
disabled soldier from the hospital and
the beginning Of his training by the
board. time during which the soldier
has nothing outside OF charity to exist
on excepting the compensation pro-
yided under the War Risk Insurance.
Act-and this averages about SIS
meath Congress provided that men in
training should receive $50 month
the soldier forfeits hts right To COM
Densation under the War Risk Insur-
ance Act. unless the compensation be In
excess OF $50. In which case the board
pays him the difference. 1t Is also
charged in the article that the wages
OF men in training are conhscated by the
board. and quotes as follows from the
boards regulations to prove it:
IAN disabled men In placement
training will have set OF against the
training gay described, such wages as
may be paid to them, by the employer
in whose establishment he Is being
trained, for services rendered during
training
TO make sure that the unfortunate
cripple doss 70. ccanlye 20 hold egt any
OF the money thus earned by the toll
Of his hands. the regulations provide:
District Offices on advising central
Office OF commencement OF a course,
shall report the wages to be received by
the men from the employer during the
period OF training
What American can read these words
without burning sense of shame7
This Is worse than convict labor A
felon IL assumed to have committed a
crime These men only gave their health
and strength as citizens in arms. What
incentive has the MANNED man to ac-
quire proficiency in his calling, when he
10 denied his reward while iearning9
The situation puts a premium on a thing
almost too despIcable to conceive-ex-
rs.sc.t. tics. - the feeble Ia bnr 81 thasa
nllItilated heroes"