The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-04
BILL REORGANIzING
Continued from Page one.)

der relief agencies by creating an
Independent organization to be known
as the veterans bureau
The bureau is placed under the jur-
isdiction of the president. Fourteen
regional offices, located throughout the
country and 40 district offices are
provided. Each regional office may
pass upon the claim of any veteran
residing within its Jurisdiction
Extends Medical Care.
The new law extends medical care
and treatment to all service men suf-
fering with disease or injury of SER
vice origin or aggravation even where
the disability Is rated less than 10
per cent. There is q limitation, how
ever. to the provision of that section.
namely, that the application for treat
ment must be made within one year
from the date of the passage of the
law. Of course, the time of treat
ment may extend over the period OF
one year from the date the treatment
began
The rate and amount of compensa-
ton provided by the old law is in no
way affected by the new act No vet,
eran with disability of less than
10 per cent is entitled to compensa-
ton
Rights Increased.
The rights of ex-service men to war
risk insurance are increased by the
new act in three important respects
Provision is made that men suffer
ing with disabilities of service origin
Yy1o tot
by the payment of all back premiums,
provided they are not permanently
and totally disabled.
This IS one of the most generous
features of the whole bill for it
amounts to an admission by the gov
eminent that it is willing to assume
the risk in cases which private in.
surance company would reject
The same opportunity to reinstate
lapsed insurance policies is extended
to beneficiaries where it can be DEM
onstrated that the death Of the ex.
service man was due to wounds or
disease contracted in the service This
amendment was introduced by Req
resentative Elliott, of Indiana
Policies lneontestabIe.
Another section of the new law
makes all government insurance pol
icies incontestable after six months
from date of reinstatement
This provision corrects the attorney.
generals ruling that incontestable in.
surance> cases heretofore passed were
practically meaningless insofar as nc
administrative official could declare
against the governments right of con,
TESTING N insurance nn1iav
1t is also provided that premiums
may be waived and insurance may moi
be deemed to lapse in the case of vet
Grams confined in hospitals or those
rated permanently and totally dis
abled
No change is made in the system OF
vocational education training
Under the Old law no compensation
could be claimed or paid unless death
or disability occurred prior to or with
in one year after discharge or resigna
ton from the service.
Time is Extended.
The new law extends the time for
filing claims to within the period OF
one year after the passage of the law
This is also very important provis
ion. Technically, under the old law
all tuberculosis and metal cases
which did not emerge and become &C
tive within one year after the date OF
discharge were debarred from com
pensation.
The new law also contains sec
ton which amends the old law in that
the veterans bureau is authorized on
its own volition to review any award
of compensation and diminish or in
crease the degree of compensation
previously granted
Dated From Beginning.
1t also permits the rating and grant.
ing of compensation from the date the
disability began. Applicants for com
pensation suffering with tuberculosis
or neuropsychiatric diseases whose
ailments develop within two years
after the passage Of the act are re.
lieved of the necessity of proving tina
their disabilities were contracted in
line of service
Provision is made for the punish
ment of those who make false state.
ments with the intention to defraud
the government in seeking the bene
fits of disqualification, comp ensation
and insurance. Provision is also made
for punishment for breach of discip-
line by vocational training students OF
hospital patients. Withholding of com.
pensation is the penalty provided in