The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-25
VETERAN BUREAU
NOW TURNING OUT.
zoo MEN MONTHLY
Two Years More Of Work
In District And Staff
Will Disband
REHABILITATED MEN
URGED FOR POSITION
More Than 1850 Handled
Since 1920 In Three
- States

Disabled ex-service men in Alabama,
Louisiana and Mississippi. in all num-
bering $500, have been rehabilitated
since 1920; there are 200 more who
are yet to be trained or cared for,
which work Is expected to be completed
within two years, and then the United
States Veterans bureau win have COM
pleted its work In this section and its
las B. Smith, district manager of the
three states, stated.
Colonel Smith came to Birmingham
from his headquarters in New Orleans
to make an inspection of the Veterans
bureau here, giving the office high
praise for their work, which has been
under the personal direction of Lieut..
T. j. Calvert.
'"The Birmingham office has func-
toned WE'LL" Colonel Smith said" and
the officials in charge have done a
great deal of work during the year.
am much pleased with their results
and the way they have handled mat
ters."
Colonel Smith said the three states
of the district are graduating rehabili-
tated men at the rate of 200 month,
not, as is often supposed by many civil
ians, simply as mechanics or artisans,
but hundreds of them professional men,
graduates of the best colleges and uni
versities in the country.
Trained Men Ready
1--WE stand ready 10 furnish physi-
clans, surgeons, lawyers, expert ac-
countants, civil engineers and, in fact,
good men trained in at least any one
of 100 subjects. Not only will the
bureau furnish these highly specialized
men, but will pay their transportation
to the job for those who are calling for
them.
Il would like to get the idea over to
the public that in employing these men
the employer is not bestowing charity
or taking over the care of a cripple.
The men are equipped TO function 100
per cent efficiently in the field Of work
they have chosen and are asking odds
of no one. Besides the professions, we
are now able to supply expert artisans
in many trades, men who have spent
three and four years in intensive study
of their work, not only the physical
aspects of the trade, but the theory
that goes with it, men capable of direct
ing the work of others.
please stress the fact" Colonel
Smith said, that we have eliminated
the disabilities of these men. They
came to the bureau handicapped by in
juries received in the World war. They
were given training in such fields as
would not be affected by the disable
ment of a member. A lawyer, for in
stance, does not need both hands, un-
less he belongs to that race-but you
get what / mean. An accountant can
do all the work expected Of him, though
he may have lost a leg or a foot.
IA letter, telegram or personal call
at the office Of the Veterans bureau in
Birmingham, Montgomery or New Or
leans, in reference to securing the serv-
ice sof these men, will receive instant
attention"
Handles Leper Hospital
Since taking over the direction of
the Veterans bureau several years ago,
Colonel Smith, in addition to super
vision of the hospitals, has had placed
in his care the direction of affairs at
the leper hospital maintained by the
government at Carville, La. This place
he visited two weeks ago. There he
found 10 veterans of the World war,
two of whom had been decorated for
bravery. and six veterans of the war of
1898. Carville is now the only leper
colony in the United States, though
there are others in the insular posses
sions. The government is preparing
to spend about $250,O0 on the Car
vile hospital, and will shortly build
larger accommodations for the colony
at a cost of approximately 100000
Colonel Smith said the present facili-
ties were inadequate and some patients,
scattered through the country, were
being cared for under special circum-
stances until they can be moved to
the enlarged and improved Carville
colony. Several of the World war vet
Grams at Carville are Alabamians, Col
onel Smith said, but added that the
bureau was disinclined to furnish their
names.
In other hospitals under the super
vision of the bureau there are $50 vet.
Grams being treated for various ailments,
many of the cases tuberculosis. Cures
are hoped for in all cases.
Colonel Smith is a veteran of the
World war, an overseas officer who
served with distinction in the 18th
regiment of the Rainbow division.