The Washington herald., 1922-02-16
VETERANS URGED
TO SUBMIT CLAIMS
In own DISTRICTS
Thousands Coming to
Capital Have Been Bur-
den on Legion.

Veterans of the world war who
have service claims to adjust, and
who are not residents of Pennsyl-
vania. Virginia, and Maryland-the
States for which claims are being
settled through the Washington Of
flee of the Veterans sBurean-are
urged not to come to this city in
the interest of their claims but in
stead to deal with the suboffice in
their district. in a statement is
sued last night by Watson B. Mil
Ter, commander of the District de-
partment, American Legion.
In connection with the statement
Comdr. Miller estimated that more
than 10000 veterans have come to
this city during the past year in
the interest of their claims, and
that now, owing to the decentral-
ization program inaugurated by the
Veterans Bureau, many are coming
here in need OF support and as
sistance while their claims are be-
ing taken care of in the vicinity of
their homes. g.
Depletes Legion Funds.
The great number of former SOL
diers who are coming here un-
necessarily in the interest of their
claims has greatly depleted the ex-
chequer Of the local legion, and IN
fairness to these, men Comdr. Mill
Ter has urged them to enter their
claims in the proper places.
While the local legion will con-
tinue to assist men from this Dis
trict who are in need of aid dur
ing the time they are awaiting the
settlement of their claims, Comdr.
Miller issued a statement to those
who have been coming to this city
through a misunderstanding of the
clai msettlement program.
You men are Just about out of
luck" said Comdr. Miller yesterday
to a group of veterans. when 1t
was possible to adjust your claims
here within a few days we were
glad to carry you over until a set
tlement could be egected; but now
that the government has decentral-
lied your claims and they are div
ided among the fourteen district
offices of the United States Vet
erans' Bureau throughout the
country, when you come to Wash
ington for final settlement the bu-
reau has to send out to the district
that covers your part OF the coun-
try for your papers, Your coming
here only means weeks Of delay,
and 1t Is entirely beyond our means
to take care of you for such a
length of time"
''As to helping you out with food.
funds and lodging, we are willing
10 go as far as we can; but we can
not take care of all you ask for.
There have been between 200 and
500 men in here during the past
two months. We have made no at
tempt to help the man we found to
be Cumming" but we have found
food and lodging for over half the
men who have come to US. Many of
these men walked heIn from near
by States and otherS have come
here, some with their wives, with
no funds on which to return home.
This has been a great drain on
members of the American Legion
in Washington. but We have helped
as far as we could"
10000 Ask Aid.
Comdr. Miller also told this group
of men of the efforts of the Red
Cross. the Volunteers of America,
and other organizations. In all, he
said, 1t would be conservative to
estimate that 10000 men[had come
here during the past year to ask
for help while prosecuting their
claims against the government.
Funds are no longer available, he
said, for this wholesale care of
men, and with the work of the
Veterans, Bureau now decentralized
the effort to do so would no long
er be continued