The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-04-01
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC }. HAsKN, Director,
washington, D. @.
GOVERNMENTAL CARE OF VET
ERANS

I OF dlSab 1l1ry because OF MS term IN L14e
army is not being neglected by the
federal government. If men who were
wounded or who have developed ILL
ness as a result OF their service in the
, World war are not being cared for by
the government, it usually is their own
fault The United States Veterans
Bureau has come across many cases
thousands, in fact-where men enti-
tied to compensation or instruction at
the hands of the government have
failed to take advantage of it, often
| thru ignorance.
| The Veterans Bureau is the out
growth of the now defunct War Risk
Insurance Bureau. with duties in ad-
dition to the former functions of the
War Risk organization It is work
! ing in cooperation with the United
States Public Health Service in the
medical work affecting World war
veterans.
Right now the bureau is paying out
more than 100000 every day in
the week. This money goes directly
into the hands of former service men
or their dependents. Hospital care and
cost to $4,000 veterans. This care
includes board and lodging, and rep
resents an outlay on the part of the
government amounting TO about s5,-
year.
Every month. checks are mailed out
from the bureau totaHng SAP, 900.
This big total represents $4,000
checks The bureau is conducting an
insurance business for no less than
100000 veterans of the war, there be
ing no charge upon the eX-soldier
policy holders for the cost of admins
tering this enormous business. The
policies in force represent $780,
100000 of insurance
In connection with the United States
Public Health service, more than 50,-
600 medical examinations are made
every month by the Veterans bureau.
Medical treatment is not confined to
the 10000 hospital cases. but is given
to 10000 additional former service
men every month
Nearly 100000 Claims.
The claims filed with the bureau
up to January totaled 1, AIS, 912 and a
thousand new claims come in every
day. In handling the enormous work
Of the bureau. 1000 ex-service men
and women are given employment.
The expenditures of the bureau for
ex-service men during the fiscal year
1922 will amount to more than the
by congress rs years ago.
Vocational training is an important
part of the work of this government
agency. At the close of last year more
-
this instruction from the government.
More than 10000 of these men were
receiving, in a i tion to the
training, what is called maintenance
pay" the amounts ranging from $50
to $170 a month Since the govern
ment undertook the work of rehabili-
tatipg the Intentionally handicapped
veterans, about $4,000 have taken ad-
vantage OF it.
c. r. Forbes. director of the bu-
reau. is authority for the statement
that this government has been more
liberal with its disabled soldiers than
any other government in the world
For the relief of these veterans, a to-
tai OF mere than a. billion and a quar-
ter dollars has been expended. The
end of the work of this bureau is not
mated that eventually the number of
veterans TO receive vocational educa-
ton alone will amount to between
100000 and 100000.
Recently a conference was held
here Of the leading lights of the edu-
many recommendations of the vet
Grams bureau, and these recon-
mendations are being carried out to
the best of the ability of the officers
of the bureau. The nations best
known experts in neuropsychfatrlc
and mental disorders recently con-
cluded a conference which bids fair
to assist the bureau materially in de-
and to provide cure for men with
disordered minds.
mo stone has been left unturned to
provide the disabled veterans of the
World war with every possible adj
vantage" says Director Forbes, land
statements to the effect that the gov
eminent has been derelict in its duty
show an absolute lack of information
of what has been done for them"
The work of the bureau is not easy,
by any means. Handling so many
death and disability claims is an enor-
nous business in itself. rivalling the
business of a big insurance company
which has built up its organization
with its gra dual increase of business
thru many decades.
Peculiar Cases Arise.
often one case will cause the bu-
reau no end of difficulty Recently a
death claim came before the bureau
which showed that the veteran who
lated to per cent of the population
of his home town. The late Bonnie F.
Taylor had the policy which named
his father as beneficiary. The father
died. leaving the money to the next
of kin. The Veterans bureau re-
quested a list of relatives falling in
what is known as the permitted
class and this is what happened:
The bureau received a list five feet
long containing the names. ages, and
addresses of brothers. 6 sisters, 6
uncles, aunts, % nephews, 19
nieces.. 6 brothers-in-law. sisters-in-
law, and a stepmother. OF this total
of 81 living relatives, exclusive of
cousins. 80 bear the name of Taylor.
The remaining relatives include the
names OF Berch, Summers, Davis,
Campbell. Broadwater, Goss, Lemon.
Bornes. Thornton Manning, and Pom
der. On examination of this amazing
list, It was found that SO of these rela-
tiNes are now reside nts of Crystal
Springs Thus, according to the last
census figures given for this town,
Bonnie Taylor was related to a trifle