The Washington times., 1923-02-26
DISABLED VETS
PRESS FOR
RELIEF
Seek Amendment of War Risk
Insurance Act Before Con-
gress Adjourns.


Substantial relief will be given by
Congress to disabled veterans OF the
world war, should amendments to
the War Risk Insurance act, re.
quested by the American Legion at
q hearing before the House Inter
state and Foreign Commerce Com
mittee, be enacted into law by the
present Congress. Representatives
of the Legion asked for sixteen
changes in the law, in order that
veterans disabled as a result of their
war service, not now receiving re-
lief from the Government, may be
cared for.
AS the present session Of Congress
will go out of existence March 8 the
national legislative committee or the
Legion, aided by legionnaires in Con-
gress, is bringing pressure to bear
30 that this legislation may not
die with the present session.
Amendments to the War Risk In
euranee act requested at the hearing
were as follows:
That if the insurance Of a neuro-
psychiatric patient OF the veterans
Bureau has lapsed, and he has not
had a guardian appointed by court:
that the director of the Unlted
States Veterans Bureau be directed
to reinstate his insurance and con-
tinue 1t in force.
Restrict Examiners.
To prevent the examiners Oh the
Veterans Bureau from using their
Judgment as to whether a mans ais
ability is of service origin when his
disability was not noted at the time
of his enrolment for service.
The word pulmonary be stricken
from the law so that service men
suffering from tuberculosis or the
glands or bone may become COM
pensable under this act
That the period of separation from
active service during which an ex-
service man would be considered to
have contracted tuberculosis au@o-
rnatically from service be extended
TO five years from the present period
of two years following his discharge
from the service.
That the provision limiting to two
years a mans automatic service con-
nection when suffering from neuro-
psychiatric disease be automatically
extended to five years.
That burial expenses OF 800 be
amended to provide for 5000 trans
portation Of the body and burial, and
that this be extended to claimants
who die in institutions under the
jurisdiction OF the bureau, although
they have not been declared com
pensable.
That where a disabled veteran
has been an inmate of a hospital
or. asylum during a continuous pc
Rod of one year or more or where
such person has been rated as
totally disabled for q continuous
period of one year or more, he
shall be rated as totally and per.
nanently disabled.
Loss Of Hearing.
Providing that the total perms-
nent disability rating clause be-
amended to include the loss of the
hearing of both ears as permanent
and total disability.
That in no case shall the COM
pensation of a disabled person be
reduced unless physical examine
tion has been made since the last
rating, nor until he shall have been
given at least three months notice,
mailed to his last known address.
Of the bureaus intentions to make
O reduction.
year after discharge or from Au-
gust 8, 1922, to August 8, 1925 for
obtaining certificates Of disability.
To make certificates of disability
irrevocable.
That the date by which Govern
ment-term insurance must be con-
verified to insurance carrying q re-
serve shall be extended from 1925
10 1881
That an applicant for reinstate-
ment who suffers from a disability
of service origin. and who is in
digent, may reinstate his Govern
ment insurance and have the Iapsed
premiums charged against the face
of his policy.
To make permanent total dis
ability payable to veterans whose
insurance has 1apsed, where com.
pensation in excess Of premiums
was due.
To make insurance payable to
beneficiaries, where q permanently
totally disabled veteran was dehied
reinstatement because of his con.
dition, and has since died.
To provide that the Veterans
Bureau shall furnish all patients on
discharge from hospital, a state
ment Of the medical finding as to
the condition of such patient.