Arizona republican., 1920-07-26
DESIRES CHANGES IN
 RISK INSURANCE ACT , LAW CONCERNING WAR
Sanitarium Resident Sends Letter to Governor in
 Which He Asks Another Method of Distribution

 rious quarters regarding the legislation providing war risk insurance in that it leaves too much to the discretion of the administration of the law so that it is unequally administered in differ ent parts of the country in the matter of determining what soldiers are en titled to permanent total disability in surance.
 The following letter on the subject was sent to Governor Campbell by James E. Calhoun, who for some time has been a resident at the Phoenix sanitarium. MT. Calhoun. however, states that the complaint he makes is not applicable to his case but is made for the benefit of those who are tc- tally and permanently disabled:
 "To the Hon. Thos. E. Campbell governor of Arizona.
 From James E. Calhoun, SIS North Third street, Phoenix. Arizona.
 Subject: Apparent injustice to sol diers who have some form of tubercu- losis in the distribution of war risk insE, ance.
 condition which exist at the Phoenix sanitarium at which there are now and have been for several months domiciied for treatment, a great many of United States soldiers. A great many of these men are suffering from tuberculosis brought on in some cases by being gassed and shell shocked, others under treatment are drawing government compensation who never left the train ing camp where they were sent by the local board.
 Some of these men are in an ex tremely bad conditions. being bedrid- den, and in the past six months I am told there have occurred at this sani- tarium more than thirty deaths. Through the administration of the res ident physician Dr. Geo. H. Woodall no man under his care is recommended for permanent total disability until he is on his deathbed. Dr. Woodall has stated that he is in favor of granting permanent total disability insurance to men suffering from tuberculosis as long as they remain in the sanitarium, but as soon as they leave the sanita rum he believes that this should be taken away, in order. he explains, to take the burden off the taxpayers. He tells the men who ask regarding per manent total disability benefits that if they believe that they are entitled to such an adjustment of their case. that they should ask for a transfer to some other hospital.
 There are men in the Phoenix sani- tarium who have been granted total
  berculosis from other public health hospitals, public health boards and United States hospitals who are not bed patients, while there are number of patients suffering from aggravated forms of tuberculosis who are not rec commended for total permanent dis ability insurance by the management of this sanitarium
 sI cite you the case of a MT. Dunbar who died at the sanitarium on or about July 1. He was in the sanitarium for about three months and the physician in charge said there was no chance of his recovery, but he died without being recommended for total permanent dis ability. There are other cases I might cite you but I prefer to leave that to lotherS whom you may see fit to in terest in this matter as a committee of l investigation.
 My purpose in bringing this matter to your attention is not to in any way influence my own status insofar as my policy of insurance is operative. but to endeayor, if possible, to get the cases of men who are helpless to represent themselves before an intelligent com mittee who will thoroughly investigate the conditions and correct the injustice i which will become apparent to them immediately upon gleaning the facts al 1 first hand.
 The American war risk insurance 1 was written. as every American be | lieves, to protect and assist those oi our soldiers who were disabled from
 any cause during the great war. Since
 the soldiers who are suffering from tuberculosis are in a much more dan gerous and helpless condition than the men who have lost leg or an arm l or an eye or even all three. it is ob- 1 yiouS that each case should receive | consideration upon their merits by tho physicians and surgeons of the loca i examining boards. and that such re
 ports should be acted upon by the bu
 reau of war risk insurance and adjust
 ments made upon the true merits O. each case.
 'I. therefore. pray you that you us'
 your offices to the end that an un- biased committee be secured and ap-
 pointed to make an investigation alons
 these lines and that this committe'
 report their findings to those author
 ities who are qualified and empowered by law to make a correction of sucl abuses, wrongs or injustices as ma. exist"