Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1919-12-11
ANNUAL REPORTS OF OFFICERS
OTTAWA CHAPTER AMERICAN RED CROSS
FOR FISCAL YEAR l9l9-920

The following is description u
the various tyres Of work handled ~
the home service section Of the Amer
itaa Red Cross and the number oil
cases handled:
insurance.
TIE wife OF soldier came to the
Office regarding allotment. She stated
that she did not know where her hus.
band was "a he had not been living
with her for aEont one year previous
% bis enlistment. The home seryic 2
section telegraI he'd to the adjutant
general to ascertain the soldier 5
whereabouts and We received "a reply
Eating that the soldier had died sew
eral months previous. The wife dil
not know If the soldier had taken on.
insurance, SO we again communicated
Wi h the bureau OF war risk insurance
at Washington and learned that he
had taken out $4,000 OF Insurance..
naming the children as bcneficiaries.
The children being minors, it was nee
easlry to have the matter taken w
by the Probate Court and "A guardian
appointed. They are now receiving
the Insurance and being cared for by
the guardian
twenty-five different cases Of insur-
ancc were handled by the home sery-
ice section.
Compensation.
Soldier returned home ill., He felt
certain hat he had tuberculosis,
which caused him to be extremely de.
sroEdent. His family We're unable to
provide treatment for HMM fact,
they we're dependent upon him for
support, After much effort on the
part OF the Red Cross he was per
suaded to file claim for compensation,
a well az dependent claim for support
oil his family. was examined by the
United States public health ply stefan
and sent to The sanitarium for treat
nent. Al the present Zine he is very
much improved In spirit as well as
physically. is receiving his compensa-
ton and provided for in every way.
We have taken care of seventytivn
compensation eases.
Allotment and Allowance.
i-oldieT made allotment to his moth
also made "a second allotment to his
father After several months the
mother failed 20 receive her allotment
and allowance. The matter was taken
ZIP with Washington and payment
thereon secured for the mother. The
allotment mode to the father and
taken out OF the soldiers pay by the
ale tnlent division was never sent To
the father. After the soldiers dis
charge he asked the Red Cross to as
sisL him in securing this money,
Washington claimed the allotment was
,leyer made by the soldier but through
Il duplicate allotment application he'd
by he soldier We were able to prove
his claim and secure payment thereon.
TWO hundred allotment and allow
ance cases OF various types Were
taken care of by the Red Cross.
Bonus.
As the bonus law was passed after
a great many soldiers were discharged
the home service section filed neces-
sary papers and secured bonuses for
about . 0 soldiers.
Bonds.
Almost ever; member OF Company
c subscribed Tor Liberty bonds while
1T Camp Logan, houston, Texas. Pa.
incnts were deducted from their pay
ard bonds We're laid in full on July /.
1918. When the company was dis
charged enc year Laser they arrived
home very much annoyed to think
that the bonds they had paid for had
not been sent out by Washington.
They immediately took the matter up
With the Red Cross. We took the
matter up with Washington and were
notified that the service records of
he company had been lost After
.hree months OF continuous effort the
Red Cross was able 10 prove to WASH
neton that the bonds had been paid
The bonds We're then forwarded to the |
different soldiers.
We have taken care of fifty cases
1ther than Company { bonds.
There we're soldiers families who
needed medical care and treatment
Turing soldiers absence which they
could not afford to pay for. This
treatment was provided by the Red
ross as we'll as advice and other
ssstance with home problems.
During the influenza epidemic last
Nin.cr the home service section So.
,ured reports on the conditions OF sol
Tiers at the various camps for over a
families by communication
With our representatives in the camps.
We have given general information
o 400 families and service of various
iinds to about 800 families and sol
liers.
\ few days ago the brother OF an
insane soldier came in, asking for as.
,istance in being appointed conserva'
or for his brother in order to collect
and keep the insurance
n force Cases similar to this and
.he preceding cases cited exist win
many of the soldiers and their lami'
les today. 1t cannot be ascertaine6
o what extent until questionnaircs
are returned or the family of each re-
urned soldie: visited. This is in full
illment OF the agreement of the
american Red Cross made with the
United states government at the con-
of the war.
MAYME ]. PERROT. Secretary.