Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1920-12-27
WOUNDED DIE
WHILEU. S. WATTS
Many Disabled Ex-Service
Men Unable to Obtain
Awards
GET COMPENSATION
AFTER THEIR DEATH
BY Il. NJ. THIERRY

NEW YORK, Dec 27.-Disabled
veterans of the World War are dying
while government agencies instituted
TO aid them dilly-dally
OF 5000 ex-soldicrs whose disa-
bility can be traced definitely TO the
rigms OF service 10000 are in hos
pitals. Thousands Of others have
been unable 10 obtain compensation
or vocational training
Typical cases Of government dali
lance are found in reports of Ameri-
can Legion officials who have been
investigating Here are some:
Fourteen wounded soldiers in the
u. 5. Publh Health Service Hospi-
tai No. al at New Haven, Conn, who
had put in compensation claims for
total disability, all died within the
past few months although the War
Risk Bureau had every one OF them
listed as a total temporary" case.
one victim was Private Steve
CALAIS, who for a long time had claim
ed that he should be rated as a total
permanent disability case. The Amer
lean Legion took up his case last
June 3. The claim was turned down,
the chief medical adviser OF the War
Risk Bureau declaring CALAIS disabil-
ity TO be only temporarily total" On
July ~ CALAIS died.
John Murray, wagner with the
Third Field Artillery was shot in the
foot in France His right leg was
amputated in Camp Taylor hospital
and he was discharged with an arti-
flcial leg and $50 a month.
Four months later this award was
cut 10 $3.50 a month. on complaint
OF the Legion il was raised to $50.
and when the Sweet bill was passed
TO $50.
Meanwhile Murray developed tu-
berculOsis and efforts were made 10
give him a total permanent dlsabil-
ity' rating, emitting him to Si75.50
month. This the War Risk Insurance
Bureau allowed March &c, 1920.
Nearly a month after the award
had been made, with payments for
nine months due, the Legion wired
the bureau:
please expedite checks so Murray
can sign them before he dies in or
der TO pay his own funeral expenses
The check arrived nine days later
two days after Murray's death.
Private James A. Day Is the sub
ject Of the following report by the
! Legion officials
This man submitted claim for
compensation about eight months
ago. The War Risk Bureau did moth
ing about IL. Recently his case was
settled by the following letter the
Legion sent the bureau:
James A. Day passed away while
you were completing your investiga-
ton and making arrangements. No
doubt his last moments were very
happy. thinking as he did that you
were so successful in obtaining moth
ling for him."
Private Charles II. Theobald, i39th
Field Artillery, got the flu from over
seas exposure. After being discharg-
ed he developed trouble with a leg
which had to he amputated. He had
the operation performed at his OWL
expense.
The leg infection was the direct
result OF illness while In service, ac-
cordlng 10 afldavits OF doctors
He made a claim for compensation
in December. 1919, but this was de-
MED in spite of a Recommendation
Thy Or. Charles r. Bird Of Green's
burg. Ind, government eXaminine
surgeon. With the submission OF ad-
ditiOnal afildavits the case was re-
opened last September, but was still
pending when Legion officials made
their last report.
The three government agencies d.
lrcctly charged with looking after the
welfare OF ox-service men are asking
Congress 30 appropriate S323OO0,O0
for the next fiscal year, divided as
follows:
Compensation .Si6OOO00
Vocational training ...... 100000,
! Hospital operation ........ 5000 O0'
, New hospitals ............ 3OOO0OI
Here is the ''lrst aid" legislation
which the Legion seeks to have en-
acted:
Consolidation OF the three bureaus
b under one executive department
81 Hospital treatment for all veteran
b. disabled by service.
= Authority for the Vocational Train
ing Board TO furnish medical car
? for all men in training.
Authority for the War and Nav
= Departments to advance money 10
more help and equipment in exist
c ing hospitals.
l. Allowance OF 500 a month. wit
4 additional sums for dependents 10
2 all former service men taking VO,q
5 tional training.
= Vocational Draining for all disable
u men drawing compensation, regard
less OF vocational handicap.