The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-01-01
YANKS DIE
AS GOVT
DALLIES
Compensation Due Disabled
Men Is Delayed; Many
Unable TO Get Awards
ny Il. NJ. TIIIERRY

NttefltnS OF the world war utt
dying while government agencies
Instituted 10 aid them dilly.dally.
OF 500. 600 ex.soldicrs whose dis.
ability can be traced definitely 20
the rigors of service 10000 are IN
hospitals. Thousands OF others have
been unable 10 obtain compensation
or vocational training.
Typical cases OF government dal'
lance are found in reports OF
American Legion officials who have
been investigating. Here arc some.
Fourteen wounded soldiers In the
United States public service hos
pltai No. al at New Haven. Conn.
who had put in compensation
claims for total disability. all died
within the past few months -oltho
the war risk bureau had every one
Of them listed a. a total iompo-
rary" case.
One victim was Private Steve
CALAIS. who for a long time had
claimed that he should be rated
as total permanent disability
case, The American Legion took
up his case hast June s. The claim
was turned down. the chief medical
adviser Of the war risk bureau de
claring Gaias' disability 90 be only
Temporarily total" ON July II
Galas 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 artificial leg and $50 a
month.
Four months later this award was
cut to $3.50 a month. ON com.
plaint OF tho Legion Il was raised
TO sse. and when the Sweet bill
was passed To $50.
Meanwhile Murray developed
tuberculosis and efforts were made
TO give him total permanent
disability rating. emitting him TO
siT5.5o a month. This the war risk
Insurance bureau allowed March
fe. 1880.
Nearly a month after the award
had been made. with payments for
nine months due. the Legion wired
the bureau.
please expedite checks so. Muir.
ray can sign them before he dics
In order 10 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
nothing about IL. Recently his case
was settled by the following letter
the Legion sent the bureau:
James 4. Day passed away
while you were completing your
investigation and making arrange
ments. No doubt his last mo.
rnents were very happy. thinking as
he did that you were 30 successful
In obtaining nothing for him."
Private Charles III. Throhald.
I3eth field artillery. got the flu
from overseas exposure. After being
discharged he developed trouble
with a leg. which had 20 be ampu.
fated. He had the opcra;ion per.
formed at his own expense.
The leg infection was the direct
result OF Illness while In service, ac
cording TO affidavits Of doctors
He made a claim for eompensa-
ton In December. 1919. but this
was denied In spite Of rccommcn.
dalton by DR.. Charles r. Bird OF
Greensburg. Ind. government ex-
aiming surgeon With the submits
sion OF additional affidavits the
case was reopened last September
but was still pending when Legion
officials made their last report.
The three government agencies
directly charged with looking after
the welfare Of ex.seryice men are
asking congress TO appropriate
ss23. 000.0 900 for the next fiscal year.
divided as follows:
Compensation .....;15 80. ooo. 900
Vocational training 49, 1900. 900
Hospital operation .--. 10000. 0Oo
New hospitals ..... $4,000. 900
Here Is the First aid" legisla.
ton which the Legion seeks 20
have enacted:
Consolidation OF the three. bu.
reaus under one executive depart.
ment.
Hospital treatment for all vet.
Grams disabled by service.
Authority for the vocational
training board to furnish medical
care for all men In training.
Authority for the war and navy
departments TO advance money for
more help and equipment in exist.
ing hospitals.
Allowance of 800 month. with
additional sums for dependents. for
all former service men taking vo.
catioDal training.
Vocational trimming for an dis.
abled men drawing compensation,
regardless OF vocational handicap