Evening star., 1921-04-04
LEGION IN move
TO ! AID SOLDIERS
Members Declare War Risk
Has. 86, 600 Untouched
Claims.

| Relief work. hospitaiixation and
compensation claims for ex-soidierl
will be handled with dispatch by the
| National Service Division Of the
American Legion. established here to.
day. with headquarters at 1735
| street northwest. The bureau will be
functioning under full head pi
steam by Wednesday, next. IL IL
! stated, its establishment having beer
| made imperative according to legior
officials. by what they call the dere-
iict manner In which the govern
/ ment is handling the activities in
connection with service mems claims
! Any kind of assistance for the ex-
soldier or sailor or his dependents
Will be given by this bureau. whether
/ or not those applying are members OF
| the legion.
I Albert E. Haan, a legionaire, a
former ofiicial of the bureau Of war
risk Insurance., and himself q wound
| ed veteran who has been confined
| director of the bureau. He has a
wonderful fund Of Information upon
which to perform his new duty. and
legionaires promise that it will have
/! the effect OF waking up" the govern
ment bureaus dealing with soldier
relief work.
Reports $1,000 Claims Untouched.
Figures already compiled by Director
Haan indicate that there are now on
hle in the bureau of war risk insur-
! ance more than $4,000 claims that
have never been touched. while many
Of those making the claims are In
hospitals Throughout the country. OF
bureau for more than three years and
have not been taken up for decision.
There are 200 claims Of the, same
status two years old, 1000 one year
old. 5000 nine months old. and the
others of lesser periods. !.
with his staff, which, ne is recruiting
from among those in the war risk bu-
reau who know the ropes, to push all
Of the claims to an immediate de-
cision. - =
The legion bureau, Mr.. Haan pointed
out, does not take the stand that these
claims are all justified. and he will in
sist that they be given immediate con-
sideration to the end that the claim
ant will know just where he stands.
VIII Score Hospitals.
Hospitals will come in for a scoring
at the hands of the bureau, with the
main idea in mind of improving con-
ditions.
"The most pressing problem today"
said Director Haan, "and to which
the greater part Of our attention will
be directed, Is that Of hospitaHxa-
don and compensation for disability.
OF the United States has been dere-
lict in Its after-war problem. Facts
and figures have blazed forth from
nearly every paper in this country.
/ do not blame the government, en-
tirely, for this Is government. of self
determination, and Of the people. and
Indirectly the people are to blame.
However I do charge, certain de-
partments with gross negligence. lack
of human interest in the wrecks of
war, and an utter lack of perspective
and vision in not having established
a better system even un,ler the in
adequate laws as passed by Con-
gress.
Flags Dilatory Methods.
II speak for the entire legion when
I say we are sick unto death Of the
system which compels man to prove
before the governmental bar of Justice
that he was born, that he served in the
great war. that he was not violating
the Army regulations at the time his
injury was contracted, that he has q
host Of witnesses and affidayits to
prove his yeracity. that he comek un-
der the provisions and subciaNses of
the law as interpreted by our Jealous
officials; ard all this time the mails
are overloaded with correspondence on
his case; and. further, all this time
some three years. some two years. and
often one year. has passed, slowly the
dreadful disease Is eating away the
mans lungs or brain, while awaiting
the verdict OF the colossal government
snail, a verdict which would give him
life liberty and happiness II Is would.