Evening star., 1922-02-26
by COL. CHARLES r.. FORBES.

Director OF the u. 8. Veterans Bureau
l have been asked many times to
write just what has been done in the
way of ex-soldier relief work by the
United States government since the
close of the world war. and have no
hesitancy in saying that this govern
ment has been more liberal and has
provided far greater benefits than
any other nation on the face Of the
globe. .-
l am going to show. in figures. just
what this government has done In
the way of soldier relief up to Janu-
,ary l, 1922. During the time that the
bureau. of war risk insurance and the
rehabilitation division of the Federal
Board for Vocational Education were
in operation and during the five
months of existence of the present
United States Veterans Bureau. to-
tai Of 141S.912 claims have been made
by veterans Of the world war and di-
vided as follows: 4s6.ss4 for voca-
tional training, 171.s75 for insurance
and 760.153 for death and disability
compensation.
= Many Claims Allowed.
A total OF ss1.767 claims have been
allowed by the bureau out of the
1.41s.s12, divided as follows: 3S1.117
for compensation, 299,s79 for voca-
tional education and 15o.171 for insur-
ance. There We're disallowed 472.17O,
divided into the following three ella sses:
316.1S3 for compensation. 2O.040 for
insurance, 135.947 for vocational edu-
cation. On December 81, 1921. there
were 114,975 claims waiting final ad-
judication. OF this number 55.565
were for compensation, 1864 for in
surance, 51.05s for vocational educa-
ton. These figures are all as Of De-
cember 81, 1921. Since that date a
material decrease has been made in
the number of pending cases. The
year 1921 was q busy one for those
engaged in soldier relief work. for
during the year 431,s59 claims were
filed, divided as follows: 224.772 for
compensation. $3.50 for insurance
and 1S1,477 for vocational education.
During the same period 220.247 claims
were allowed; s7.052 compensation.
1880 insurance and 109.215 vocation
al education applications were grant
ed. During this same period 209.17S
claims were disallowed, divided, 49,
102 compensation. 1851 insurance
and 46.52o vocational education.
Insurance.
During 1921, 66,637 world war vet
erans reinstated their term insurance
and 3.677 reinstated their converted
poliSlCS, iHohlH6 q toSdl VI
During the same period 76,172 con-
verted their wartime insurance. This
makes a total of 339.167 veterans who
still have term policies. with $3.50
having converted insurance policies.
bringing a grand total of 598,S97 vet
Grams who are still carrying their
government insurance in one type or
another. A grand total of $2S1.756.-
3S2.69 has been paid in insurance
claims since the bureau started op-
erations. OF this amount $278.239.-
1853 has been paid out in death and
disab bility claims on. term policies.
while $3.517.245.7S has been paid out
on converted policies for death ana
disability claims.
The government received $47,442,-
9S3.S9 in premiums in 1921 on insur-
ance and $993. 3.697.45 set aside for in
surance dividends. Converted poll
cies alone brought dividends, and
these are not payable until the pol
icy is one year old.
Vocational Training.
At the close of the last current year
! there were 104.57S veterans receiving
| vocational education under the United
| States Veterans Bureau. OF this
| number 1924 men were in section 2
| training. which carries maintenance
pay ranging from $50 to s170 per
month. in addition to the tuition
! books. supplies and equipment; 1854
veterans were undergoing vocational
training in section 3 training, which
provides tuition. books. supplies and
equipment, but no maintenance pay