The Washington times., 1924-01-24
CHANGES IN VET
LAWS PLAN
BY SENATE
Committee Moves to Cut Red
Tape in Caring for Dis
abIed Sevice Men.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.

BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.
The slashing Of "red tape" from
the care of Americas disabled
world war veterans by a complete
revision of all relief laws, will be
recommended to Congress by the
special Senate committee which in
vestigated the United States Vet
eran's Bureau, it was learned 10
day.
The committee will submit its
recommendations to the Senate
early next week in the form of a
revised code of laws for operation
Of the Veterans Bureau. II en-
acted into law by Congress, the
committees proposals will COM
pIetely liberaiize the Governments
legal attitude toward disabled vet
Grams.
Means Complete Reorganization.
The new code will practically re-
organize the present system OF
awarding relief and effect hundreds
of changes, some of major charac-
ter, in the rules governing the hos
pitalization and rehabilitation of
veterans. It was prepared by Sem
ators David A. Reed (Rep) Of Penn
sylvania, David /. Walsh Dem.l Of
Massachusetts,, and Tasker L. Oddie
Rep.) Of Nevada, all experienced
lawyers.
The major changes, already
agreed upon by the committee, in
clude:
i. elimination of all "red tape
from the disqualification of veterans
by authorizing the admission to
Veterans Bureau hospitals Of all
veterans suffering from wounds or
sickness;
2. Shifting the burden Of proof"
from the veteran to, the Govern
ment on practically all claims for
compensation;
8. Authorizing contact" officers
to safeguard the rights Of veterans
who claim compensation;
4. Increasing the amount Of COM
pensation to disabled veterans
under certain circumstances, and,
5. Reductions of compensation
where veterans are able to earn
salaries from outside sources.
Two Reports to Be Made.
The committees action win be
entirely separate from it's general
report on its investigation into
charges of corruption, negligence
and waste brought against Veterans
Bureau officials. It's findings on
This investigation viii be incOr-
p0rated in a report to be submitted
10 the Senategat a later date.
The most important change, to
be recommended by the committee.
will be its proposal to hospitallze
all sick or wounded veterans. Under
this recommendation, every veteran
would have the right to free hos
pital treatment at the nearest Vet.
Grams Bureau hospital.
He would not have to prove his
sickness Of service origin. It would
also admit thousands of she'll
shocked and tubercular veterans
who are unable to provide exact
medical proof that their condition
was due to army service.
The committee also will recon-
mend liberalization of conpensa.
ton laws by providing for the
award of compensation whenever
there Is a reasonable belief'' that
the veterans disability was due to
service.
This change win materially benefit
thousands of tubercular veterans,
whose condition resulted from q
slight gas attack and whose claims
for compensation were denied under
existing law because their army
records failed to show a notation Of
the gas attack.
Veterans with children viii be
benefited by the changes governing
amounts Of compensation. One
recommendation will provide for the
payment Of IS extra allowance for
every child Of veteran entitled to
compensation. Existing law per.
mits this allowance only for two
children.