Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-17
Congress Urged
To Renew Federal
Fund for Civilian
Rehabilitation

UNLESS the 6Sth Congress renews
the Federal appropriation for civilian
rehabilitation at the present session,
one of the most useful social agen-
cies of the government will he seri-
| ously crippled" says statement just
received at the State School De-
jartment. 1.-THE appropriation under
the present Civilian Rehabilitation
Act lapses June 80, 1924, at the close
Of the present fiscal year. Failure
Of Congress to extend the period of
Federal aid will throw the entire
| burden Of the service upon the
, states.
THE present civilian rehabilita-
ton system was launched by the
passage of the Federal Act Of juno
., 1920. Under the provisions OF
this act, Congress made available to
the states an annual grant of Fed
eral money to be used in the voca-
tional rehabilitation OF disabled CIV
ilians. The movement established by
| this act is not the rehabilitation of
disabled eX-srvice men, but provides
only for the vocational rehabilitation
of persons disabled in industry. by
public accident. or by disease. How
GNtI, tilc act pIONlSlOU lOT IL
four year period only. 1t was gen.
orally assumed, at the time, that the
four years would lie try-out' per-
iod, to be extended, If the rehabilita-
ton enterprise proved successful. a
review of the results of the program,
to date. shows that civilian rehabili-
tation has been successful. even be-
yond the expectations Of its found
ers.
Prior to the passage of the act Of
1920, six of the states had taken the
initiative in setting up civilian re-
Eabilitation work. on a limited scale.
For the most part, these states pro-
vded only for industrial victims,
who came under the provisions of
the state compensation laws. The
Federal act provided rehabilitation,
not only for industrial accident VIC
tins, but for victims of public acct
dents, and disease. Since 1920, a to-
tai of SO of the states have volun-
tarily accepted the Federal act. and
set up rehabilitation agencies. These
states represent 81 per cent. of the
national population. \ growing list
of cases for each year attests the
increasing usefulness of the pro-
gram.
1.-THE Federal Board for Voca tional
Education. which allocates the Fed
eral funds. in it's report for the ifs
cal year ending June 30, 1928, an
nounces that $4,000 handicapped per-
sons We're on the rehabilitation rolls
of the states at that date. On June
80, 1922, the number was only 5000.
On June 80, 1921, it was only 1900.
In two years the scope of the work
has Increased 400 per cent.
Similarly, the number of persons
completely rehabilitated by the
states has increased strikingly. In
the year 1920-21. complete rehabili-
tation totaled about 500. In 1929.
they totaled 1890. In 1929. they
totaled 4530. This rapid growth in
cases reflects the increasing demand
which the disabled are making upon
the States for this form Of service.
Withdrawal of the Federal Gov
eminent from partnership with the
states in the enterprise at this time
would be calamitous. 1t might re-
suit in many Of the states abandon
ing their rehabilitation work. 1t
would unquestionably deter the
twelve cooperative states from
instituting n civilian rehabilitation
program. While there was nothing
specific in the act of 1920 to that eff
feet. the states have assumed right
along that the Federal Government
would continue as cooperative
partner. 1t was upon such an as
sumption that many of tie State
Legislatures engaged in the work.
"Under the circumstances. II Con-
gress fails to act. public service OF
PROVEN practicability and urgent
necessity will be sacrificed. An
amendment. introduced in the House
on December 20. by Representative
Dallinger of Massachusetts. provides
for extension of the Federal appro-
priation. The passage of this Amend
ment is being urged by supporters
of the program"