The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1921-12-23
SOLDIERS COMPENSATION
BY INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS
Failure File Afidavs Connecting Distribution With Ser
vice in the Army, Cause Much Delay and Disappoint-
nerlts to Sick Soldiers

the late "Clean-Up Drive" conducted
by the Veterans Bureau, during
which time approximately 5000 per-
sons were interviewed in the 10th
District, has been the laxity on the
part of some of the claimants inter-
viewed in supplying essential infor-
nation required in the adjustment of
their claims. It is, therefore, deemed
expedient that claimants should be
advised through accurate publicity, to
supply the necessary additional in
formation requested on their cases,
so that the same may be finally adj
justed.
An application for compensation or
vocational training must be properly
executed and filed before the Bureau
is authorized to consider the. claim.
BY properly executing the application
lis meant that the claimant must ans
wer the questions asked, must sign
his name, and have the same acknow-
lodged before someone authorized to
take acknowledgements, and in addi-
Jion to this must have the signatures
of two persons who are acquainted
with the claimant as witnesses.
The second, and a. most important
feature, is that the claimant must
submit an honorable discharge from
the United States military or naval
forces or certified copy thereof The
certifcation should be made by an
official empowered to acknowledge
oats. It is of the utmost Importance
that a claimant, in order to receive
consideration, be able to trace his al
legged disability to the service, or at
least that he prove this his condition
was aggravated because of his hav-
ing been in the service 1t therefore
follows that in a very large number
of cases a connection with the ser
vice must be proved by affldavits of
those who were associated with the
claimant while he was in the service,
or by those who knew of his physical
condition previous to his entrance in
to the service, during the time he
was in the service, and after his dis
charge from the service. Afidavits
of former companions in the service
are very desirable, but if it is impos-
sible to obtain these, other affidavits
will be deemed sufficient if they cover
a period Of time between the date
of the claimants discharge and the
commencing of the alleged disability
to show a connection with the ser
vice. It is of the greatest Importance
that these affidavits be furnished up
on reques and that the claimant COM
pllsst~With all requests made by the
Bureau.
A great deal of criticism has been
made of the alleged dilatory actions
Of the government in adjudicating
some of the claims that have been
filed. Investigation of these COM
plants has show in a vast majority
of cases that the particular case un-
der discussion has been delayed be-
cause Of the failure of the claimant
to supply essential data which has
been requested.
It is recognized by the Bureau that
in certain number Of cases wherein
the claimant has been requested ia
furnish information, the request is
not fully understood. In a case OF
this character, it is advisable for the
claimant to communicate with the
nearest office of the Veterans Bureau
or with the Red Cross, where mat
ters will be explained to him and The
proper papers executed
The Veterans Bureau is making 8
strenuous effort to get in contact with
every former service man who may
have claim for compensation or vo.
cational training, and is asking the
full cooperation of all interested tt
the end that the benefits allowed un.
der the law may be taken full ad
vantage of.