Evening journal., 1919-02-22
Peoples Column
SPECIAL GOVERNMENT
DEPARTMENT 10 MEET NStDS
oF RETURNED SOLDIER.


To the Editor Of The Evenins Journal
Sir: The soldier returning TO the
United states after service overseas
needs volumlnous guide book TO in
form him regarding his rights ana
privileges and 10 direct him regardlns
ibe nsrticular cove nment departments
or bu eaus to which he should apply
In The case Of the wounded soldier,
for example. there are IN all seven IN
aivldusl government branches Win
which he may or may not be concern
ed in his return 10 civil life; me OF
fee OF he suryeon-general OF the army
the Bureau OF Medicine and surgery OF
the Navy. the Bureau Of War RISK In
surance, the L. 5. Public Health SER
vice. the Federal Board OF Vocational
Educat on. the u. S. Employment SER
vice of the Department Of Labor and
the Department of the Interior. From
the various organizations in tbs 'os-
ter he will receive medical treatment
and educational advantages prior To-
discharge award OF pension for dlsa-
h lny provls.on Of artificial limbs. med
zeal care after military discharge, train
ing for a new occupation placement ID
a lob. or settlement on the land. lis
social after-care VIII be provided by
still another semi-governmensal
agony, The American Red Cross.
There are, to be sure, cooperative
arrangements" between the various ad-
mlnislrative branches But there Is no
head. no one authority upon whom
can be pinned responsibility Tor de-
laws or defects IN the discharge OF ns-
tlonal obligat on to the returned man,
no one authority who can be credited
FOR the JOB well done.
II returned soldier has difficulties
now IL is 10 easy TO pass on RESPONSE
billy. I'VE are ready to act, but must
wait on another department VII On is
behind In rs work. We can take ca.e
OF one OF your three needs. but re-
garding the others you must make ap-
plica,ion TO such and such an agency,
and have the papers forwarded 70
WASHINGTON for action" Such situa-
tons can hardly be criticised, how
ever. under the present ar. angements.
other countries have faced the same
problem, and several OF the youngei
nat ons with considerable 1eXbility IN
their legislative systems. have solved
10 by the establishment OF single de-
partment 10 deal with all the Interests
OF the returned soldier.
In Australia forRxample. there has
been established the Department Of
Repatriation" with m n.ster in the
cabinet. This department which deals
with he soldiers re-esiablshment 10
civil life, has been described as the
connecting link between military SER
vice and the outside world
The Australian repatriation organiza-
tilon awards pens ons, offers re-educa-
ton 10 the disabled. places men In en-
pl0yment, promotes land settlement |
provision, manufactures artlne al limbs
an through the medium OF local COM |
mittees which are the only official bu-
reaus with which the individual SOL |
der comes In contact.
In Canada. the interests Of all return
ed soldiers are covered by the newly
created Department Of Soldiers Civil !
he-esiablishment which has absorbed |
both the Board Of Pension Commission
ers and the Invabied Soldiers Commits
Sion. The department Is also concern
d Nth the board problems OF demobi-
{ation. employment OF discharged SOL
fers and so forth For disabled men
provides vocational re-education. ar
nc.al limbs. medical treatment after
ischarge, pensions and training allow
noes. The department has a minister
] the cab net
The third country TO make such
move Is New Zealand. where there has
'een introduced in parliament a repa-
y alton bill placing under a single adj
mnistraton unemployment, land SET
tiement curative treatment and voca-
Nenal training for returned soldiers
lave we anything to learn from these
lnree consecutive moves in meeting the
ex-soldier problem7
DOUGLAS c. McNIURDIE.
president Federation OF Associations
Tor Cr'pples.
New York, February %. 1919.