Evening star., 1924-01-29
SENATORS PROPOSE
AUTHORIZING HINES
T0CHANGE CHIEFS
Would Empower Admins
trative Reorganization at
Veterans Bureau.
C0DIFICATI0N OF LAWS
PROJECTED IN REPORT
Simpler Rating Procedure and
Methods of Appeal Urged
by Committee.

'he veterans Bureau to put into force
complete administrative reoreani-
cation, both in the home office ap5 8,
the nelo' Is proposed in preliminary
report MED with the Senate today by
the special committee, which has
spent eight months in investigating
the affairs Of the bureau
Cnder the plan recommended th.
director would be enabled TO estab-
lish rating boards In every DISTRICT
and subdistrict to examine and rata
claimants In person; to greatly sim
piify procedure on appeal and TO
make radical changes in hospital ad-
1hls Is only one of a score of rec
concentrations made by the commit
Tee, which proposes a codifcation NJ
all OF the laws affecting the bureau
regulating compensation for disabled
veterans. regulating war risk insur-
ance OF persons IN the military serv-
Ice and providing for vocational re-
haoilitation of disabled veterans.
Need of Codiacation.
'it|a'ioh OF CheSe statutes is
essential" the report says, land does
not need to wait and should NOT wai,
upon the completion of the commit
tees report on the manner IN which
the veterans Bureau has been ad-
ministered in the past"
Other changes In existing Iay.
practices proposed by the committee
are:
That partial reinstatement Of
the lapse of war risk Insurance
be permitted; that Reinstatement IN
any case be permitted for one year
aIter the enactment OF the code. But
thereafter only when application is
maze 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 automatic reinstatement out
of retroactive awards of compensa-
tion be prohibited.
That vocational training be limit
ed to those who suffered disability
in line of duty and not the results
of their own misconduct between
April 6, 1917 and July s, 1921.
Periods of Trimming.
That vocational training be limit
ed to those who made application
on or before June 80, 1929; that train
ing must be started on or before
June 80. 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
right to compensation under the
federal employees compensation act.
slight increase in the rate of
compensation to veterans having sew
eral children, or widows with several
children.
Double compensation for widows
and parents where husband and son
or two sons, have died of service in
juries.
Loss of Use of Limbs.
That the loss of the use of limbs
be made the equivalent of lost limbs
in ascertaining total permanent dis
ability.
That the ratings of disability be
besed on average impairment in oc-
cupations similar to that of the in
jured vetean.
An allowance of $50 per month for
an attendant for all helpless veter-
ans.
Reduction to $50 per month In the
compensation to insane veterans. who
have neither wife, child nor dependent
parent, and who are maintained free
of charge in a veterans bureau hos
pital.
That retroactive 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.
Increased Burial Funds.
An increase in the allowance for
burial expenses from 800 to $3.50.
That tuberculosis or mental disease
developing within three years after
discharge, shall. be presumed to be
of service origin.
That a veteran in hospital be re-
Quired to allot not more than three
fourths of his monthly compensation
to his wife, dependent children. or
dependent parents: any unalloted
deposited to his credit at interest
with the Treasurer of the United
States, and paid to him on demand
when he leaves the hospital.
That Veterans Bureau hospitals be
made available to all honorabIy dis
charged veterans of the Spanish
American war. the Philippine insur-
rection, the Boxer rebellion or the
world war. who are suffering from
tuberculosis or mental disease with
out proof that the disease results
from military service.
That the director be given power
to suspend compensation payments
to all guardians of insane veterans
who fail to render accounts showing
proper application of payments for
the benefits of their wards.
Right to Sue.
That disputed claims on war risk
insurance may be sued for in the
Court of Claims or In a federal dis
trict court, and the judgment paid
forthwith out of the bureaus cur
rent appropriation.
That benefits of the law be ex-
tended to cadets at West Point and
midshipmen at Annapolis so as to
give them compensation and training
for injuries suffered during the war
and to allow them the same priv
ileges of insurance as are now given
officers and enlisted men in the mill
tary service.
That the salary OF the director be
increased from $4,000 to $4,000.
Most of the proposed changes are
based upon recommendations OF John
F. Organ of New York city. general
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