The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-02
So A MONTH
REWARDFOR
yANK HERO!
Gassed and Wounded in
France, Has to Beg to
Keep Self and Baby

to keep himself alive.
That and worse. according 70 Earl
Harkins. formerly OF Seattle. has
been hts. reward as soldier. Hare
kins is now In California
The Veterans Welfare commission.
OF Seattle. learning OF his case. has
taken II up with Washington. ID. c.
INVESTIGATION or
CASE INCOMPLETE
Colonel w. NJ. ingiis. chief OF tho
welfare commission hero. has not
completed investigation OF Harkins'
case. but here il a letter Harkins
wrote rngils from san Francisco.
dated July 10, 1880. rcceirting a $50
loan sent him by tho colonel:
Dear Sir and Comrades:
Il have received the $50. for which
I greatly thank you and the commits
sion. II Is my hope 20 repay this at
the earliest possible date. To-day
am leaving for the u. :. public health
hospital at Arrowhead. Cal. where
win convaieseence untll the govern.
ment gets my compensation straight.
ened out
Il have been treated most STABILITY
BY the bureau OF war risk Insurance
and their delay has practically ruined
mo. | was discharged from tho rsr-
vice on March Is. 1880. after year
In hospitals on a rating OF 50 per
cent by a board OF regular army doc
tors. I>ettrrman General hospital.
then. on March ~. 1890. recommend.
ed for a 100 per cent temporary total
by tho II. Of w. ". Flood building.
san Francisco. Cal
AWARDED TOTAL sum
or - A MONTH
Il was told 10 SO homo and take
. rest for about q year; that my
compensation would come every
month. / wen, home. tied up every
dollar could secure 10 open Up a
little business whereby I could make
bread and butter for my baby and
self. thinking the government would
fuifill their obligations. Tho govern
Sncne failed me. and In order TO save
what few dollars could. I had 10
cioSs the business. suffering a Joss
OF more than $500. Then came the
word from Washington. u. C. that
I had been awarded the TOTAL sum
Of - per month for my baby and
me. A damnAble disgrace and out,
raga
Tt appears that the chief medical
director. bureau Of war risk lnsur-
snce. Washington. ID. C. In the face
Of two Recommendation for so and
100 per cent disability. and my own
personal statement. cut my rating
down 10 10 per cent What author
ity. business or cause he ha for
doing %. wc have been unable to
learn The bureau here has bonn
barded them with additional recon-
mendations OF 100 per cent. they have
sent wires. letters. etc. but to no
avail
SENATOR JONES MAKES
PERSONAL CALLS
Senator Wesley l. Jones. wash
ington. ID. C.. has mad. more than
They have each time told him they
would write or wire me and the
bureau here. which they have not
done Their promise has not been
kept. and IL has been evasion all the
way thru. The chief medical dfrec-
tor OF the bureau IL tho person re-
sponsible. and IL he. without author.
ity. handled my case In this manner.
no doubt hundreds Of cases have suf.
fcred the same fate.
They are q fine bunch OF officials
to be given charge Of a bunch Of
sick men. This "Aii King chief med.
ak - -
removed and boycotted turnout the
newspapers Of the land. My own
case proves him guilty OF criminal
intent
Why he would disregard bona
Hds recommendation and set his
own figure is beyond the doctors
here.
Il hope. colonel, you win find time
to help me get my case adjusted.
BETTER OFF If HE
HAD BEEN SET ADRTFT
Il would have been much better
off had I been discharged from the
service, knowing that I was to be
given no help.
The whole affair has completely
undermined the balance of my
health. and am now on my way
back to the hospital. where I am go
Ing 20 remain until the government
pays its long delayed obligation. Had
the government given me immediate
aid. would be a very well man to-
day. but they have made a wreck Of
, me instead. This IN gratitude for Civ
ing all for my country. The bureau
of war risk is a failure, and thou.
sands Of wounded. sick and crippled
of the world war. Americas own, are
today begging for help. realize
am not alone. Incompetent officials,
office-secking politicians We must
have. and the wounded can go To
he'll.
The American Legion here Is up
in arms. and was told yesterday
that II Washington, ID. c., didn't get
off their high horse. Il was going 10
ask for an investigation.
! HASN'T EARNED A PENNY
SINCE DISCHARGE
1T looks now that Washington. d.
c.. Intends 10 disaIlow the full com
pensation of $50 per month from
March IL, 1920, In my case. and
make me do with 81. This will be
very unfair. as have not been able
70 earn sne penny since my dis
charge from the service. have had
To spend most OF my time In bed.
am In hopes that I will got In good
enough condition at Arrowhead
Springs 70 take up vocational train
Ing.
The doctors advised me against
vocational training. on account OF
my poor health--still Washington.
ID. C., sees fit to cut me down 20 a
rating OF 10 per cent. only wish
that you had access to the records
here; you would readily see the great
injustice dealt me.
Il have waited. waited and waited
y Al. 4