The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-07-20
Mountains of Mail
Mark Futile Fight
By HARRY B. HUNT.

Indianapolis A crosS-section of
opinion among ex-service men as to
the functioning of the Veterans Blu
reau, charged with the disqualification
and compensation of disabled veter-
ans, can be found in the daily ,rnoun-
tain of mail reaching American Legion
headquarters here.
Running through almost every letter
is note of helplessness, almost of
hopelessness, because of interminable
delays, INDIGESTION and red tape in
which cases have become involved.
Lack of authority in the local sub
offices eof the bureau causes even the.
most minor matters affecting a case
to be passed on to the district office
for ruling.
Reports to district offices often go
unanswered for months. Often these
Offices pass matters along to the Wash
ington office for ruling. More delay.
More waiting.
Passing the Buck.
Through this method, system of
buck-passing has been evolved.
Much hullabaloo was made in bureau
publicity few months ago over
Cleanup squads" which toured the
country TO get frst-hand facts on de-
layed cases to expedite their settle
ment.
Yet an average days mail brings to
the Legion from score to hundred
letters from men examined. by these
squads three and four months ago,
without further action.
Typical Example.
Typical of these is the case of EN-
ory King of Durand, Mich.
King was shot by machine gun
bullet at Verdun. The bullet was not
removed because of its nearness to
his heart. He had not been able to
work for a year, and has no means by
which to support himself and wife.
When the cleanup squad" visited
Saginaw, Mich, in April, King saw
ray of hope. He went to Saginaw, pre-
scented his case and underwent an ex-
animation.
His case would get prompt action,
he was told. He's still waiting.
Payments Stopped.
Thomas M. England of Brownstown,
Ind, was drawing $40 month disabil-
ity compensation from the bureau.
In February, without notice, all dis
ability payments were stopped.
England has written and written
again to the district office at Cincin-
natl in an attempt to have his case
re-opened. Marry an answer.
Meanwhile, unable to work, he has
been under the care of doctor.
Gassed at Front.
Lawrence A. Peavey, jamestown, N.
Y, fighting at the front, was, severely
gassed July Is, 1918. He was never
able for duty again.
On the basis of recognized disabili-
ties, he was paid $3.50 a month by
the government. Later this was ar
bitrarily cut to $3.50, then to SO.
Because of the small compensation,
Peavey-against the advice of his ply
sicians-was compelled to work. He
secured employment as solicitor for
the Metropolitan Insurance company.
He collapsed at this work, and on
examination by the insurance COM
pany's physicians was rated as 100 per
cent disabled-for company service
and sent to the company's sanitarium
at Mt. McGregor, n. Y.
Examiners Report.
DIR. Edward L. Hazeltine, a desig-
mated medical examiner for the sec
ond district of the Veterans Bureau,
says of Peavey's case:
"He should not be allowed TO re-
main in this climate much longer. He
has clinical symptoms of pulmonary
tuberculosis. He should get plenty of
rest, change of work and be free
from financial worries.
"On Oct q, 1921, examined this
man and suggested he have a change