Evening star., 1923-03-25
THERE are cases where something

THERE are cases where something
i more than employment can be
found for the rehabilitated man.
Thus it has been possible in some
cases. through the assistance of To-
cal friends, to set up the trainee in a
small Independent business. An in
stance was the case OF concrete
worker in one of the western states
who fell from the top OF a concrete
smokestack. His injury made II nee
essary to ampute both feet. He was
sent to the home OF his parents,
seemingly helpless. Rehabilitation
agents made contact with him and
decided to train him for shoe repair
work. The aid of members OF his
fraternal organization was enlisted.
artificial limbs were bought and a
sum was raised which enabled him
to have course of training in a
shoe repair establishment and later
to open a small repair shop OF his
own. The venture has been entirely
successful and he is now the propri-
etor of a going business. earning an
income equal 10 that from his old
trade.
In other cases. traineeS entitled TO
compensation awards have been set
up in business by inducing the COM
| pensation commission to award the
amount in a lump sum. The field of
a small shop offers wide opportu-
nifty to the disabled.
The rehabilitation organization
will soon face a crisis. when 1t ap-
proaches Congress for an extension
| Of Federal support. The rehabilita-
| tion act of 1920 was provisional and
appropriated funds for period of
| only four years. The amount avail
able for allotment to the states the
! first year, under the act, was $760.00o.
The amount available for the three
succeeding years was $1.000,0O0 per
| annum. The organization Is now in
its third fiscal year and congressional
action must be taken to renew the
appropriation before June 80, 1924.
Under the provisions of the act. the
states receive the Federal money
with the condition that they match
the appropriation dollar for dollar
by state appropriations.
Since the service is still In the
stage of organization the available
been exhausted. In the second fiscal
year, 1922. the states were equip
ped to accept s314,973.43 Of the total
available Federal fund of $1.0OO,0oO,
or 81 per cent. In this same year the
Federal grant was matched with
s4O4. .695.42 Of state funds, S.79o. .45
local funds and ss.21s.07 of private
contributions. In other words. the
1922 expenditure consisted of 42.8
Federal funds, SIS per cent state
funds and 90 per cent local funds
and donations.
The great increase in the 1922 ex-
penditures over those OF 1921 gives
a measure of the growth of the serv-
ice during the twelve months.
Registrations of new cases showed
an actual increase for the year of
2s5 per cent. New cases registered
in 1921 totaled $3.50. In 1922 the
registrations numbered 15.407. The
total number of cases, new and old.
handled during the fiscal year 1921
20 was 1909. On June 30, 1922,
there was a live roll OF s,1T re-
Mobilization cases on the books Of
the states. At present the live roll
is approximately $1,000 cases.
X X X
xIyHILE these achievements present
w only a scratch on the surface Of
the disablement problem as q whole,
Mr.. Fidler and the heads of state or
eanixations believe that it Is a highly
favorable beginning.
The peak Of the load will not be
reached until after several years of
preliminary organisation. With con-
tinued congressional support the re-
Mobilization system can attain a COM
manding position in the lives Of the
disabled within a few years. 1t will
| wipe out the serious problem OF the
destitute cripple. From social
point of view 1t will mean the res
| toration to earning power Of multi
tudes who are now dependent bur-
| dens upon society.
In view Of these economic possibil-
| ities, Mr. Fidler argues that the re-
Mobilization service is more than re.
paying In dividends what it has cost,