The New York herald., 1922-02-17
CRIPPLED VETERANS
PLEAD FOR DELAY
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
battle is still raging and they have the
first claim for consideration from the
American people In the following
memorial to the President of the United
States and the Congress of the United
States they set forth their grievances
and ask consideration of their insurance
claims before a general bonus Is
granted.
"WoRLD WAR PATENTS COMMITTEE
GEORGE L. WALTERS, Secretary
Memorial to President.
"a memorial to the President of the
United States.
THE patients Of Walter Reed General
Hospital. who are representatives of
| every section Of the Union. and knowing
! the sentiments OF the disabled veterans
throughout the United States Of Amer
lea. at a mass meeting on the 18th day
of February, 1922, voted to present the
following statement of grievances and
resolutions to the President Of the
United States of America. the Congress
OF the United States of America and
the American people
Whereas. The American Legion and
the disabled American veterans of the
world war in their respective conven-
tions voted resolutions approving legis-
lation in the resolutions below. and.
Whereas, All civic bodies have advo-
Gated a most generous and unstinted
policy toward those who are disabled.
and.
Whereas. Under regulation No. 81,
Bureau of War Risk Insurance Of No
vember 26, 1920. all persons who had
been hospitalized for period of six
months or morenas a result Of injuries
received during the world war were
granted their insurance benefits from
date of injury, and.
Whereas, On July 25. 1921. the
Comptroller General Of the United States
of America ruled this regulation Illegal
because it granted the disbursement of
funds on presumption, and,
Whereas. One of the fundamental
laws of insurance is to the effect that
where there is any language OF doubtful
meaning in an insurance contract all
such doubtful meaning shall always be
construed in favor of the insured, and.
Law Is Ambiguous.
Whereas, 1t has been shown by the
acts of the officials of the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance in rendering awards
at one period and then in a later period
declaring them illegal that there is a
great ambiguity in the phraseology OF
the war risk insurance law itself. which
permits different interpretations of
meaning. and,
Whereas, The director of the veter-
ans bureau cannot decide how long a
war risk insurance is law itself, which
permits different interpretations of
meaning, and,
"Whereas, the Director of the Vet
erans' Bureau cannot decide how long
beneficiary must be totally disabled
until he becomes permanently disabled
and will not assume the authority OF
saying a man Is permanently and totally
disabled unless that man is dead and,
Whereas. from the above facts, we
believe we are not only morally but also
legally entitled to the benefits of our
insurance therefore, be, and 1t is here
by
RESOLVED, That we petition the Presi-
dent of the United States of America to
use his influence and good offices 70
secure the enactment of the following
bill prior to the adjusted compensation
bill
Therefore, Be il enacted by the SEN
ate and the House of Representatives
of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled, that section 400 OF
| Article Number Nv. or the war FISK IN
surance act. or any other acts amcnda'
tory thereto. be and is hereby amended
by the addition of the following clauses
HospitaIixed for Year.
Provided that when benificary I'M
| der this act has been heretofore rated
| by the United States Public Health Ser
| vice, Bureau of War Risk Insurance OF
/ the Veterans Bureau as permanently
and totally disabled by either of said
organizations and has been continuously
so disabled for a period OF twelve
months or more, and been found upor
examination by competent medical
authority to be unable TO follow continu.
ously any materially gainful occupation
such beneficiary shall be adjudged to be
totally disabled and shall be entitled
to all the BENEFITS OF such rating under
the war risk insurance act. and sets
1 amendetory thereto. from the date
such total disability began.
" Provided further. that the WORD
Cpermanent), In section 400, Article
Number ". OF the war risk insurance
act, be and is hereby construed tc
apply TO all cases where total disability
has continued for twelve months OF
| more and 10 those who are suffering
from chronic or recurring disabilities OF
diseases incurred in the line OF duty.
Provided further that this inter.
probation shall apply to any one who
was insured on date of injury or com.
mitted to a hospital and comes under tho
section above.
world WAR PATIENTS COMMITTEE
| GEORGE l.. WALTERS, Secretary"