Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-06
Gen. Hines Reports
On Veterans Bureau

Omaha, Neb., Act 5.-"During the
past year, as over no other period
has the service of the Veterans Blu
reau been brought to the disabled
veteran" said Gen. Frank T. Hines
Director of the U. S. Veterans Bu-
reau, addressing the 18th National
Convention of the American Legion
here today.
Complete decentralization has
been the ideal, and it's realization is
the one outstanding accomplish
ment Of the year. 1t may seem that
all too slowly has this decentraliza-
ton and extension Of service
progressed, but. tracing briefly the
steps taken in decentralization since
the establishment Of the Veterans
Bureau, you can see how steadily
and far we have progressed"
Under the Act of August 8. 1921,
cases were first decentralized to the
fourteen district offices, and au-
thority to the field was granted to
make disability awards and eligi-
bility determination. In December of
that same year authority was grant
ed for making initial payments on
on awards. Decentralization OF case
action thereby became a fact, and by
successive stages increased authority
was granted to field offices, including
the making of initial payments on
awards in December of 1921; the
adjudication of authorized claims for
reimbursement on account of treat
ment and travel in the following
March; the payment of maintenance
allowances and for medical care,
tuition and supplies of trainees in
r-N Of
regular monthly disability compen-
sation awards, except permanent and
total. in November; the appointment
Of guardianship officers in March of
1924; and the establishment of Re-
Mobilization Survey Boards in April.
In June of 1924 the last step in the
decentralization of vocational train
ing was made through the delega-
ton to suboffices of complete re-
sponsibility for the award and pro-
vision of training, without limita-
ton as to the duration of courses,
except as prescribed by law: and
suboffices were further authorized to
review their own action and reinduct
into training when evidence proved
that rehabilitation was premature.
In accordance with the World War
Veterans Act of 1924. regional offices
were established and decentraliza-
ton to them was commenced, the
first cases being shipped during
August. Claims and Rating Boards
were at that time established, which,
so far as possible, did away with
paper ratings, and permitted the
claimant to appear personally be-
fore those charged with determining
the claimants degree of disability.
In November Of 1924 the submitting
of awards involving retroactive pay
ments to Central Office was discon-
tinued, and to the field there was
delegated the payment of authorized
burial expenses and all unauthorized,
or irregularly authorized, claims for
reimbursement for medical expenses
and travelling expenses. In January
of this year, in order to expedite the
settlement of appeals from regional
offices, there was commenced the de-
Capitalization of the Central Board
of Appeals, which was completed in
July. In February authority was
granted to Claims and Rating Boards
to rate permanent and total cases.
and to the regional auditor to make
payments on permanent and total
cases other than those in Central Of
flee. In May field offices were
granted authority to adjudicate
claims for medical treatment in
volving an extension of time. Boards
of Recovery, established in regional
offices in October of 1924. were then
granted authority to completely
adjudicate all cases of overpayment
involving less than $500. And,
finally, the decentralization of
permanent and total cases held in
Central Office was authorized and
is now completed, so that all adiudi-
cations and payments involving dis
ability compensation are now made
in the field Offices
Decentralization has, therefore
progressed to it's ultimate limits
and the full measure of the bene-
fits from such decentralization can
be accurately determined. Probably
of paramount importance in this ex-
tension of service has been the
organization of regional offices and
the establishment of Claims and
Rating Boards. AS you know, at the
time of the passage of the World
War Veterans Act Of 1924. the
Veterans Bureau had IS field Of
fees, including IA district offices
and II sub-district offices. The Act.
authorized the Establishment of 100
regional offices and suboffices to re-
place the district plan of organiza-
ton. 1t was entirely practicable,
however, by modifying procedure in
some of the major activities. es-
pecially claims adjudication to i'm
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