The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-12-09
BY FREDERICK J. HAsKIN

BY FREDERICK J. HAsKIN
WASHINGTON, d. c., Dec. 9. -
What is probably the largest law Of
flee in the world--a survival of the
warts located in this city. Practi.
cally all of the biggest things" in
Washington belong to Uncle Sam, and
the record breaking law practice is no
exception.
The 500 lawyers of whom we write
work for the government in the legal
division of the Veterans Bureau They
handle questions of real estate, do
nestle relations, criminal law, con-
tracts; in fact, all varieties of legal
problems that arise in the course of
administering the insurance compen-
sation, and rehabilitation affairs OF
100000 war veterans.
That 500 lawyers are needed is
enough to show the immensity of the
task, and it is not likely that the le-
gal force will be cut down to any ex-
tent for the next four or five years.
There are still a great many insur-
ance cases that requires legal decis-
ions. There are cases in which a sol
der dies and two or more people
claim to be the rightful beneficiary
cases soldiers have made their insur
ance payable to their estates, and in
thousands of others the beneficiary
named has died. AS the men involved
in the cases have scattered to all
parts of the country, and even to Eu-
rope, Asia. and the South Sea Islands,
the bureau lawyers have to ascertain
and apply the laws of every jurisdic-
ton in the world.
One of the most unusual features
of the law work of the bureau relates
10 contracts for training of veterans.
The average student who is placed in
a school pays as he goes. The Veter-
ans Bureau has $4,000 men in voca-
tional training with 5000 institutions
and instructors, and the only way to
keep track of the different arrange
ments agreed to by so many schools
and individuals is to draw up legal
contracts.
The real estate and contract Sec
ton, which now has probably the most
work of any section in the legal divis-
ion. also handles all the contracts for
hospitals being built under the two
Langley bills. The first of these bills
calls for an expenditure of $1S.600,000
land the second $17,000.000, all for
hospitals.
Law Violators
Are Prosecuted.
Another section prepares for pros
ecution cases where the law is vio
lated. An official of the bureau says
that considering the immense number
of cases the bureau has to handle
there are not so many cases of fraud
and false claims as might be suppos
ed. He says that of the cases actually
prosecuted by the department of jus
tiee, however, the proportion of &C
Quittals is almost negligible. indicat
ing that the courts are not inclined
to be lenient with persons who de
fraud the eX-service man and the gov
eminent.
Special attention has been given by
this section to cases involving excess
i've fees of attorneys. The Original
war risk insurance act allowed claim
agents and attorneys to charge no
more than 10 per cent of the sun
awarded client INSCRIPTIONS claim
agents saw in this provision a grea
opportunity for business and the,
pestered every person having sem
blance of a claim against the Wal
Risk Bureau. The condition became
so Objectionable that congress amend
ed the act in 1918 making it unlawful
to charge more than three dollars fo
assistance rendered as agent or at
torney ia any one case and imposing
a penalty of fine and Imprisonment
at hard labor for violation of this pro
vision Even this did not put stol
to extortionate fees.
An official says: fragrant viola
tions still occur. In recent out
standing case a fee of $4,000 wa
charged for obtaining $4,000 wa
risk insurance where the only thin:
done or necessary to be done for tn,
claimant was to write few letter.
to the Bureau in reference to thu
claim"
At one time the work of this gov
eminent law office was even heavie
than 1t is now. The exemption sec
ton was four years ago the bigges
court of. domestic relations in tn
world. This was when the allotmen
and allowance business was at it
height Enlisted men misunderstood,
the law and failed to arrange for a
lowanees for their families. Othe
enlisted men with families wer
claiming exemption from making con
,D,,l~orxr ollnfrnanf and wives Wpr