The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1922-03-20
WORK Of BONUS
BOARD IN S. D.
TION OF STATE ORGANIZA.
TION AND PROGRESS.

Pierre, March 20.--,According TO
records recently made public on the
last day of February, 1922, grand
total of $3,366,246 had been sent
out by the soldiers compensation
board to 1900 different ex-serv1ce
men, most of whom are living in
South Dakota at the present time
out many of whom, are scattered in
all parts of the United States and
foreign countries.
Since payment began on Novem-
Der IT, 1921, figures show that the
board has paid out each month ap-
proxifnately one million dollars to
over five thousand service men,
which is at the rate of approximate
ly $4,000 per day. The average
amount of each payment is $198,
Each application, If submitted in
proper form, contains answers to %
questions, with an affidavit of the
applicant and two certificates as to
his identity and residence, one by
the county American Legion officer.
and the other by some authorized
county official. The discharge from
the service is also required. and a
pay voucher properly signed by the
applicant.
Irregularity appearing on such
proof or the failure to furnish such
essentials, necessarily delays the pay
ment of the claim and more than
- he
new engaged in sending out letters
of inquiry on the remaining unpaid
claims Except those more recently
filed) to secure information to COM
plete the record in each case so that
payment can>>be made. The record
in each case must necessarily be
clear and positive, because when the
work is completed, the board must
account for each penny or the SIX
million dollars, and carelessness or
error in paying out thousands of dol
lars to those who are not by law en-
titled to receive the bonus, would on
ly be unfair to all concerned. Many
of the remaining and unpaid claims
present very different questions that
will require thorough investigation
into the facts and the law. The law
saws that only those who were bona
fide residents of the state for three
months preceding entry into the SER
vice. shall be entitled to receive COM
pensation, and due to the fact that
normal young men have a tendency
to move about and travel before
finding employment, or a perman-
ent location, their exact status as to
residence at the time of entry into
the service is often most difficult to
determine.
The remaining unpaid claims are
being rapidly examined or investiga-
tide as the case requires and payment
promptly and continuously made and
anyone who has not received pay
ment, will either receive his pay war
rant within the next few weeks OF
will within that time be requested
to furnish additional information on
particular points to make the records
in the case sufficiently positive sc
as to justify payment.
1t is the opinion of the local Amer
lean Legion bonus board that the
soldiers compensation board a.
Pierre, under the direction of the ex
ecutive, Fred B. Ray, has been 81
thorough in its work that when tht
work shall have been finished ant
the last warrant issued, a piece o.
work will be completed that the sol
diers' compensation board and thu
| American Legion of the department
of South Dakota can look back tt
with a great deal of pride.