The Bottineau courant. (Bottineau, Bottineau County, N.D.) 1895-1929, 1922-08-31


disabled veterans Of $Ss4,239 and 279
Insurance claims paid dependents OF
soldiers, $489.314; besides miscellan-
eous sums, bringing the amount paid
out TO service men and their depend
ents through the efforts DC this office
Of the Legion to- q total Of $8S8,O43I
IN less than eight months.
These sums are impressive, In con-
sidering that they constitute a charge
against our governmental expenses.
But they actually represent delay of
Justice for our fighting men and their
families. To translate them into terms
of happiness for disabled soldiers, de-
! pendent widows, children and parents,
is another matter. e
The enormous amount of work in
volved, the delays in fighting red
tape, and. the ultimate happiness
which successful prosecution of a
claim brings, are realized by few per.
| sons. y - ~ "s ~ j q
Typical of hundreds of these cases
is that Of Harley Jasper Markham,
seaman, an enlisted man in the U. S..
Navy since 1903. AS his terms of en-
listments expired, Markham re-enlist-
ed four times, until he had only one
more "hitch" to serve to be retired on
half pay with the accompanying per-
quisites for the remainder of his life.
In the meantime, Markham had
saved his money, so as to GO into
business when he had completed his
service. But he had not counted upon
illness wrecking his plan.
During the early part of 1918 the
exposure to which he was subjected
began to tell on Markham and he
broke down. He was taken out of ac-
tive service and sent to the hospital
at Fort Lyons, COL, where a medical
examination or July 8, 1918, showed
that he was suffering from pulmon-
airy tuberculosis. He remained at the
hospital a year and recovered some
what, but on August IL, 1919, was
discharged from the service, over his
protest. He attempted to re-enlist, but
was denied this because of his tuber-
culosis.
Markham found himself at a loose
end. Although his life's occupation
had been taken away from him in this
arbitrary manner, Markham made the
best Of a bad job, and determined to
live in the open as the surest way of
restoring his health, lost in the SER
vice of his country He purchased a
live stock farm at Stanton, Kansas,
with his life savings, and although
handicapped, began to live life anew.
For a short time things looked like
they were coming Markham's way.
His condition improved, he married,
and his farm prospered. But as time
went on the health he had regained
by his OWL efforts after his govern
ment had cast him adrift, gradually
began to leave him. His farm raj.
down, he became involved in debt, and
his wife became i'll.
In the spring of 1921, Markham
was forced to spend the greater part
of his time in bed. At this time he
learned from the Kansas American
Legion that he vas entitled to hospit-
al care and compensation from the
government to support his wife. AS he
had gore into debt $4,000 largely be-
cause of his illness, this was welcome
news. But, Markham mad yet to make
the acquaintance of departmental red
tape.
In reply to his application at Wash
ington, Markham was ordered to
Hutchinson, Kansas for examination
in June, 1921, where his condition was
diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis.
advanced stage, and he was advised
to enter a hospital Immediately.
Markham declined to do this, as he
could not leave his sick wife without
means of support, and told the doctor
he would not go to the hospital until
his claim for compensation was al
lowed.
Then came more letters, more trips
and more examinations for the desti-
tute Markham. In the meantime, the
Kansas American Legion was work
ing on the case, but Markham was
finally informed the compensation de-
partment said that their records did
not show he had tuberculosis-altho
the hospital department did have such
a record, and urged him to enter a
government hospital for treatment be-
fore his condition became worse.
Finally on August 81, 1919, Mark
hams claim for disability and ON
pensation was allowed, but based ON
only temper cent partial disability
rating, it entitled him to only SO a
month accrued compensation since his
discharge two years before. :
Tho Karsas Tpoion and fha Ameri-