The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1923-01-12
FOREIGN LABORS
VETERANS BUREAU
Major Leon Fraser Makes
His Report
SURVEY WAS MADE
War Benefciaries Living In Eu-
rope Are Receiving Satisfae-
tory and Attention

The director has received the re-
port of Major Leon Fraser, who left
the United States on June Gath to
make a survey of conditions affect
ing Veterans Bureau beneficiaries
in Europe and also to gather data as
to what foreign countries are doing
for their war disabled. Major Fra
ser visited England France, Swift
zerland. Italy, Greece Jugo- Slavia,
Hungary, Austria, CZecho- Slovakia,
Germany, and the American &C.
cupied territory.
The survey discloses that bureau
benefciaries resident in Europe are
receiving on rhe whole satisfactory
care and attention through the ex-
cellent Offices of the U. S. consular
service and OF the U. S. public
health service offices attached to
American Legations and consular
offices. So satisfactory does he find
this method of handling Veterans
bureau business, that Major Fraser
says that there is no necessity of
creation of a European office OF the
bureau. # 49,
In Greece, where special arrange
mentS have been made, the Bureau
has representative attached TO the
American Legation at Athens. IL
Italy, the present method of distTi.
buting compensation and insurance
checks through the Bank of Naples
is recommended as satisfactory.
Major Fraser recommends the phys
ical examinations of claimants be
made by physicians known to the
ccnsuls or By a U. S. public health
service officer where such services
are available.
Facts Brought To Light
Some interesting facts are brought
TO light on the administration OF
soldier relief in European countries.
The report states that the U. S. was
the first country involved in the
war to pass special legislation for
disabled veterans, leading the way
in fixing as a principle that com
pensation for war injuries is due
man as matter of right and not as
a matter of gratuity. England and
France are the only countries which
pay for disability as low as ten
per cent. and other countries be-
ginning at fifteen and twenty per
cent, and in the case of Russia
thirty per cent. While the United
States accepts as a general PROPOSE
tion that ex- service men accepted
in the military service were sound
at the time of their enlistment,
foreign countries insist on positive
proof that the military service
caused The disease.
Nearly all foreign countries ex-
cept England have legislation which
provides for the compulsory en-
ployment of disabled veterans. Such
legislation on the continent is nee
essary because of the great number
of disabled veterans who must be
distributed between industrial and
commercial pursuits.
What Germany Is Spending
Germany with 100000 pension
ers is spending only $7.000,00O, an
nually, '-Sereas the United States
eApends approximately $500, 100000
annually. In France the disabled
veteran is allowed many privileges;
for instance. fare on state railway
seat in a public conveyance exemp
ton from many taxes; protective
rules against increasing rents.
In France and Italy all hospital
iZation and medical care Is handled
exclusively by the permanent and
establishments. Major
Fraser states that foreign nations
are having The same hospitaliza-
ton difficulties as the United
States. particularly with regard to
mental cases. In England there is
bitter complaint concerning the
of the insane vete-
rams in county and borough hos
pitfalls which are frequently half
filled with paupers.
The report shows that the United
States has gone into the field of vo-
cational training on larger scale
than any European country, both as
to number of men in training and
the variety OF training offered Eng
land with over 100000 disabled
men has fewer than $4,000 in train
ing. The United States today has
$4,000 in training and has had as
high as 100000 in training at one
time.
The recommendation of Major
Frasers in his report was that the
Veterans Bureau should definitely
of vocational training
abroad, basing his opinion upon in
vestigation OF vocation training
facilities and conditions under
which training is provided n Eur
opean countries.