Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-31
VETERANS BUREAU
REFORMS URGED IN
REPORT To SENATE

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29.-Full
authority for the director of the
veterans bureau to put into force
a complete administrative reorganl-
cation, both in the home office and
in the field, is proposed in a pre-
l..22ztnary report filed with the sen
ate today by the special committee
which has spent eight months in in
vestigating the affairs of the bu-
.reau.
- Under the plan recommended the
director would be enabled to estab-
lish rating boards in every district
and sub-district to examine and rate
claimants in person: to greatly SIM
pity procedure on appeal and to
make radical changes in hospital
administration.
This is only one Of score OF
recommendations made by the COM
mittee, which proposes re-codfica-
ton of all of the laws affecting the
bureau, regulating compensation for
disabled veterans, regulating war
risk insurance of persons in the mill
i. tary service and providing for voca-
tional rehabilitation of disabled vet
p Grams.
r. Modification of these statutes IS
essential" the report says, land
= should not wait upon the compile
ton of the committees report on
the manner in which the veterans
bureau has been administered IN
the past"
Other Changes Urged
Other changes in existing laws Or
practices proposed by the commit
tee are:
That "a partial, reinstatement Of
the lapse of war risk insurance be
permitted that reinstatement in any
case be permitted for one year after
the enactment of the code, but
thereafter only when application 5
made within two years of the lapse
that physical disability and service
origin short Of total permanent dis
ABILITY be no bar to reinstatement,
and that an automatic reinstate-
ment out of retroactive awards Of
compensation be prohibited.
That vocational training be linn
tied to those who suffered disabi-
1ty In line of duty and not the re-
suits of their own misconduct, be-
tween April 6, 1917. and July G..
1921.
That vocational training be lin.
tied to those who made applications
on or before June so, 1928; that train
ing must be started on or before
June 50, 1924 and that all training
must be terminated by June 80, 1925.
A slight increase in training al
lowances for veterans with children.
Provision that trainees injured in
the course of their training be given
a. right to compensation under the
federal employees compensation act.
A slight increase in the rate of
compensation to veterans having
several children, or widows with sew,
eral children.
Double compensation for widows
and parents where husband and son,
or two sons, have died of service in
iuries.
That the loss of the use Of limbs
be made the equivalent of lost limbs
in ascertaiDing total permanent total
disability.
* That the ratings of disability be
BASED on average impairment in oc.
equations similar to that of the in.
jured veterans.
An allowance of $50 month for
an attendant for all helpless veter-
ans
Reduction to $40 a month as the
compensation to insane veterans,
who have neither wife, child nor de-
pendent parent, and who are main
ta1ned free of charge in veterans
bureau hospital.
That ret1 oactive reduction in COM
pensation be forbidden, except where
the beneficiary has been guilty of
fraud
A stricter limitation on retroactive
awards and retroactive increases of
compensation.
+. An increase in the allowance of
burial expenses of from 800, to $3.50.
That tuberculosis or mental dis
ease. developing within three years
after discharge, shall be presumed
to be of service origin.
That a veteran in hospital be re-
qured to allot not more than three
( fourths of his monthly compensa-
ton to his wife, dependent children,
or dependent parents; any unallot-
ted portion of such three-fourths to
be deposited to his credit at interest
with the treasury of the United
States and paid to him on demand
when he leaves the hospital
That veterans bureau hospital
De made available to all honorably
discharged veterans of the Spanish
american war, the Philippines in
direction, the Boxer rebellion or the
World war, who are suffering from
tuberculosis or mental disease with
sut proof that the disease resulted
from military service.
That the director be given power
70 suspend compensation payments
10 all guardians of insane veterans
Who fail to render accounts, show
ng proper application of payments,
Or the benefits of their wards.
THAT disputed claims on war risk
Insurance may be sued for in the
kou:t of claims or in a federal dis
lrict coTRt, and the judg paid
forthwith out of the bureaus cur
tent appropriation.
That benefits of the law be eX-
ended to cadets at West Point and
hidshipmen at Annapolis so as to
live them compensation and train
pg for injuries suffered during the
MAR and to allow them the same
privileges of insurance as are now
siven officers and enlisted men in
The military service.
Salary of Director
That the salary of the director be
ncreased from $4,000 to $4,000
Most of the proposed changes are
tased upon recommendations of
fohn f. Organ. of New York
City. general counsel for the COM
nittee.
Boy Accepts Challenge,