Evening star., 1924-02-05
OPEN CONFERENCE
ON REHABILITATION
Four-Day Session to Discuss
Vocational Training of
Disabled Civilians.

Launched last night by meeting
addressed by Secretary OF Labor
Davis and Senator Fess of Ohio, the,
national conference on vocational re-
habilitation of civilian disabled got
down to business at the Hamilton
Hotel today for sessions of four days
TO discuss the varied problems pre-
sented to both the federal and state
governments.
One of the principal hopes. it was
revealed by speakers last night. is the
passage by Congress of the Dallinger
amendment to the federal civilian re-
habilitation act, which Is now before
Congress.
Secretary Davis declared he had al
ready expressed himself in favor Of
the amendment, which would con-
tinue federal aid to the states after
Legislation will expire. Not to con-
tirue the program said the Secre-
tary, would be to break faith with
the states and to terminate move
ment which has begun so auspicious!
ly and with every promise Of big ac-
compliShmentS."
Senator Fess said he had found
some opposition in Congress to the
proposed legislation because Of the
lax reduction proposal and because
some members OF congress nau HOT
yet been convinced of the value of
the work.
DR.. r. NJ. Little, director of reha-
bilitation for New York, and Harry
l.. Fidler, vice chairman of the Fed
eral Board tor Vocational Education,
also spoke.
John Aubel kratz, chief civilian re-
habilitation division of the federal
board, who was chairman of the ses-
sion this morning, estimated the to-
tai public cost of rehabilitatinE
disabled worker at $3.50.
The state of New York." he said
has estimated that the average ini-
flal earnings of a rehabilitated per-
Son are $1,000 per year. The average
cost of maintaining a dependent per-
son in that state is $500 per year. The
entire cost of rehabilitation, in the
average case. is less than one years
bill for maintenance"
J. c. Wright, director of the Fed
eral Board for Vocational Education
who was chairman of this afternoons
meeting, declared it was vital that fed
eral cooperation with the states be
continued. "A very conservative
estimate shows" he said, that ap-
proximately $4,000 persons contract
permanent disabilities each year. who
are in need of and are susceptible
TO vocational rehabilitation.
others on the program for today
Included: DR.. r. NJ. Little of New
Dr. John Is. Andrews, New York; Dr.
Herman Schneider. Cincinnati: Horace
j. Mellum, kenosha, Wis; Miss Mary
Anderson, director womens bureau,
department of Labor. and Matthew
Nou, vice president of the American
Federation of Labor.
Three Committees Appointed.
The. following three committees
We're appointed today by John Aubel
kratz, presiding officer of the con-
ference and chief of civilian reha-
bilitation service to serve until the
next conference:
Committee on future service Of fed
Sral Staffs to states: J. F. Marsh
West Virginia, chairman; Willis w
Grant. Iowa; d. w. Rockey, New
Mexico: Miss Helen Mccoy, New
York: NJ. d. Perrin, Ohio.
Committee on revision of state an
nual report forms--R. o. Small. of
Massachusetts, chairman; Oscar NJ.
Sullivan, Minnesota; Miss Marguerite
Lison. South Dakota; II. E. Browne
North Carolina; Terry c. Foster, Ala
bama.
Committee on recommendations on
federal board policies-W. F. Faulkes,
Wisconsin, chairman; s. S. Riddle,
Pennsylvania; c. A.. Fulmer, Ne
braska: Miss Mary z. Baker, Missis-
Ia