The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1924-03-07
Is
Condemned
in Inquiry
Investigation of Disabled Ex.
Service Men Here Launched
by Liaison Officer at Re-
quest Of Legion Posts.
Pitiable Cases Revealed

Belief that the county hospital is
no place for any ex.service man and
that the basement Of the hospital is
no place for any human being to live
in was expressed yesterday by George
H. w. Rauschkolb. iiaison ofncsr OF
the American Legion for the Ninth
district, after a tour OF inspection
with a committee from the legion
which Is investigating conditions IN
the local veterans bureau.
mo ex-servtce man ever should 90
to . poor farm" Reuschkolb said.
And no human being ever should bs
expected even TO exist In the base
ment of the Douglas county hospital"
Rauschkolb was called by the MEM
bers of Omaha American Legion post
No. to investigate the alleged neg
lect of ex-service men in this district
who are entitled to compensation and
medical attention as result Of
wounds received In service. He ar
rived IN Omaha yesterday from ST.
Louis and Immediately started his tour
Of inspection.
Vet Dying at Hospital.
The first place visited was the
Douglas county hospital. where seven
men now are receiving medical atten-
ton. OF the seven cases. only one
ha. received any attention from the
veterans bureau. That one Is a men
tai case and. according TO Rousch-
kolb. should be in a government hos
pital for ex-service men.
One OF the cases investigated by
the committee was that Of Joe Grain.
Grain has developed tuberculosis as a
result OF being gassed during the war.
For a year he has made every effort
TO obtain aid from the veterans bu-
reau, without success.
Now he lies IN the county hospital
dying.
Grain was sent TO Arizona with
money obtained by subscription. The
climate Of Arizona did not help him
and he came back TO Omaha, only to
become worse The Omaha post OF
the legion cared for him until he be
came so Ill that he had TO be put In
some hospital. Ths county hospital
was the only plsce he could 60.
Too Late.
Doctors say that cirain cannot live
beyond next fall at the latest Rausch-
kolb declares that he believes he can
force the case through the red tape
OF the veterans bureau now. But
the time when the boy could have
been helped Is past.
Another case was that Of Joseph
Gresham. He developed tuberculosis.
but did not know that he should ap-
peal 10 the veterans bureau. When
he finally did appeal. affidayits Of the
cause and time Of his injury were de-
manded.
Gresham went to the doctor who
had cared for him and received an
affidavit. The affidavit stated that
he had tuberculosis in an active form.
but failed to say how the docter had
reached this conclusion.
The application for compensation
was returned. marked 'Dissilowed
because no connection with your in
jury and your service has been
shown
Won't Make Statement.
The ether cases were much on the
same order. All either had refused
aid by the veterans bureau for some
reason not always stated. or had no,
known how TO apply for medical al
tention.
Rauschkolh refused 10 make any
statement as 10 the belief OF the com
mittee in regard to the bureau. He
declared that he would have 10 go
through the bureau this morning and
then determine what must be done.
Those who formed the committee
were: Frank o'Connell. state sdjr-
tant Of tho American Legion: George
w II. Rauschkolh. Cy Wheeler. liai-
son officer OF Omaha legion post: Leo
Eozell. commander Of Omaha post: E.
7 wieland. distric; manager Of the
veterans bureau. and Clinton Bronze
Rausohkolh went TO Lincoln last
night 10 inspect the condition CT dis
ah,ed service men there. He VIII re
turn to Omaha this morning. 10 CON
4rx