Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-08-04


World War is embodied in the law
Act" For the medical reports of ap-
pilcants Tor compensation as well as
for the actual treatment, medical, sur
gical and hospital, of such claimants
the secretary of the treasury calls up
on the secretary general Of the marine
and public health service.
We all understood how much the
Surgeons General of the Army and
American Red Cross during the war.
Upon them devolved the responsible
ity for providing care for the wound
ed and sick men and women in SER
vice, in camps and in the field. The
Surgeon General of the Marine and
Public Health Service has issued a
statement that he now needs the SER
vices of the trained personnel of the
American Red Cross no less than the
Surgeons General of the Army and
Navy required it during the war.
Every award of compensation is made
in Washington from reports present
ed by the men in the service. 1t is
obvious when we consider the great
number of men who were in service
>
that this problem of awarding COM
penSatlon to those who are entitled to
it is one of the biggest tasks that ever
confronted any government. A man
is known in Washington not as he is
known in his community but merely on
paper. Each department has prepar-
ed set of blank forms setting forth
a list of questions which when an
ri q,
concise and definite idea of the mans
physical, financial, family and econo-
mic situation. These reports are no
"red tape" than is absolutely neces-
sary, as any one who. thoughtfully
considers the matter will realize.
When you consider that man realizes
the necessity of employing a lawyer
when making transfers of property or
transacting other business requiring
papers, and record, it will be read
lily seen that it is not reasonable to
expect men to be able to prepare
these papers correctly without assist
ance. Moreover, they cannot be pre-
pared correctly except by person
trained to do this work any more
than a man who was not a lawyer
could draw up deed correctly. The
of the bureau of war risk in
surance, r. G. Cholmeley Jones, has
issued statement to the effect that
he wishes these papers to be prepared
in the Home Service Sections of the
American Red Cross and there only.
He has asked and obtained the writ
ten consent of such welfare organiza-
tions as the Y. NJ. c. A., K. of c., jew
ish Welfare Association, American Lee
gion and various other well-known
social agencies to turn over any APP
plicants for compensation and medi-
cal care to the American Red Cross
which is charged with the responsible
fly of presenting the claims in a COM
plete and correct form to the govern
ment. The Bureau of War Risk In
surance states that they feel entitled
to ask this of the Red Cross because
the Red Cross was generously sup
ported by the people during the war
and it has on hand sums of money
adequate to practically complete this
work without calling upon the public
for more, and because it maintains a
corps of trained workers who are pre-
pared to prepare these papers cor
rectly. The secretary, Mrs. Sweeny,
who has been in charge of the work
in the Vernon County Chapter, was
selected, as are all candidates for this
work, from list of people who have
had college training in sociology and
economics, and was given, as are all
persons so selected, an intensive train
ing under the direction of the Amer
lean Red Cross in one of our largest
and passed an examina-
ton and received a diploma from Ma
tional Headquarters of the American
Red Cross. 1t is not of course, pos
sible for every Chapter to obtain the
services of a trained worker at any
time, because the demand for them
is far in excess of the supply. How
ever, when Chapter puts in re-
quest, secretary can usually be sent
to them for few weeks or months,
who can establish the work and train
some one who will be able to complete
it, and this is what the Executive Com
mittee has done in Vernon county.
1t must be remembered by the pub
lie that the money now on hand in the
Red Cross treasury was given for
the benefit of men and women in ser
vice and must be used for them so
long as there is need for such work
among them. AS soon as the war
work is completed in any community,
the local chapter of the Red Cross
may make report to Division Head
quarters showing that the war work
has been completed and request per-
to undertake some other form
of Red Cross activity for the benefit
of the community. This work is quite
generally known as the "Peace Time
Program" and it may consist of nurs-
ing service, establishing a bureau of
relief, undertaking necessary recrea-
tional work for the young people of
the community; or, in fact, any other
program which might come within
the scope of a welfare organization
taking care of social needs.
The Red Cross committee welcomes
the interest of every member of the
community.
MRS. J. R. SWEENY,
Executive Secretary in Charge Home