(Hospital Circular No. 186) FORM 2636, RECORD OF AND RECEIPT FOR MONEYS AND VALUABLES-FORM 2637, OCTOBER 21, 1924. 1. The above-mentioned forms have been adopted by the bureau to take the place of the old United States Public Health Service forms heretofore used in United States veterans' hospitals as a system for keeping record of patients' valuables deposited with the custodian for safekeeping. 2. Form 2636 (similar to United States Public Health Service Form 1986) provides the custodian with a convenient means of keeping record of and giving receipt for moneys and other valuables belonging to the patients. It is bound by cardboard cover containing 200 perforated receipt slips with stubs. 3. Form 2637, receptacle for valuables of patients, is a manila envelope, 52 by 91⁄2 inches, made with opening and flap at the upper end and with button and string fastener (similar to United States Public Health Service Form 1970.) 4. These forms will be furnished your station upon receipt of requisition in central office. E. O. CROSSMAN, Medical Director. (Hospital Circular No. 187) APPLICATIONS FOR ADJUSTED COMPENSATION OCTOBER 11, 1924. Section 601 of Title VI of the World War adjusted compensation act provides that if a veteran has died before making application, or, if entitled to receive adjusted-service pay, has died after making application but before he has received payment, then the amount of his adjusted-service credit shall be paid to his dependents. A veteran entitled to adjusted-service pay is one whose adjusted-service credit does not amount to more than $50 as distinguished from a veteran whose adjusted-service credit exceeds $50 and who therefore is entitled to an adjusted-service certificate. Section 501 of Title V of the act, which deals with the issuance of adjusted-service certificates, provides that the amount of the adjusted-service certificate shall be payable to the veteran 20 years after the date thereof, or upon the death of the veteran prior to the expiration of the 20-year period, then to the beneficiary named, except that if such beneficiary dies before the veteran and no new beneficiary is named, or if the beneficiary in the first instance has not yet been named, then the amount of the certificate shall be paid to the estate of the veteran. This section further provides that if a veteran dies after making application, but before January 1, 1925 (the first day on which a certificate can be issued), then the amount of the certificate shall be paid in the same manner as if death had occurred after January 1, 1925. Section 501 also provides that the adjusted service certificate shall be "of a face value equal to the amount in dollars of 20-year endowment insurance that the amount of his adjusted-service credit increased by 25 per centum would purchase, at his age on his birthday nearest the date of the certificate, if applied as a net single premium, "It therefore appears that the amount calculated in accordance with accepted actuarial principles and based upon the American Experience Table of Mortality and interest at 4 per centum per annum, compounded annually.'" due under an adjusted-service certificate exceeds materially the amount of a veteran's adjusted-service credit. From the foregoing it will be seen that it is to the advantage of the veteran to apply for the benefits of the act without delay. If a veteran whose adjusted-service credit exceeds $50 dies before making application, his dependents will receive only the actual amount of his adjusted-service credit, whereas if he had made application prior to his death the value of the adjusted-service certificate would be payable to the beneficiary named by him or to his estate. My attention has been called to instances of veterans' deaths occurring in Government hospitals since the passage of the act without such veterans having applied for the benefits due them under the adjusted compensation act. It appears to me that it is the duty of commanding officers of veterans' hospitals to advise all veterans under their care of their rights under the adjusted compensation act. Accordingly you are directed to make a survey of the veterans in your charge with a view to ascertaining those who have not made application and advise such veterans of the advantage in promptly applying for the benefits of the act. You are likewise directed to advise new patients coming under your charge. The adjutant general on July 8, 1924, advised this office that in compliance with request application blanks had been sent to all United States veterans' hospitals. Further blanks, together with instructions, if needed, may be had by addressing the adjusted compensation division of this bureau. WINTHROP ADAMS, Acting Medical Director. (Hospital Circular No. 187-A) APPLICATIONS FOR ADJUSTED COMPENSATION FOR INCOMPETENT VETERANS AUTHORITY FOR COMMANDING OFFICERS OF UNITED STATES VETERANS' HOSPITALS TO MAKE DECEMBER 10, 1924. By virtue of a joint regulation of the War and Navy Departments commanding officers of United States veterans' hospitals are now authorized to make applications for adjusted compensation under the World War adjusted compensation act on behalf of veterans "administratively determined to be mentally incapacitated" and who are patients in their care. This new joint regulation constitutes a waiver of the general rule previously adopted that no incompetent veteran could apply except through a legally appointed guardian. The waiver of this general rule applies only to the cases of incompetent veterans receiving treatment in a Government hospital and for whom no legal guardian has been appointed. Under the joint regulation the director is called upon to certify to the War and Navy Departments that in all cases of applications being made by commanding officers he has required such commanding officers to designate as beneficiary "only the veteran or the veteran's estate." Accordingly all commanding officers of United States veterans' hospitals making applications on behalf of incompetent veterans in their care, for whom legal guardians have not been appointed, shall designate nó beneficiary other than the veteran or the veteran's estate. You are directed to make a survey of the veterans in your charge and submit applications in the cases of incompetent veterans receiving treatment in the hospital under your supervision and for whom no legal guardian has been appointed. FRANK T. HINES, Director. (General Instructions No. 1, Director's Office. Obsolete) JUNE 1, 1923. The following instructions are hereby promulgated, effective this date, for observance by all officers and employees of the United States Veterans' Bureau concerned: 1. District managers, superintendent, Vocational School No. 1, representatives in charge of supply depots, and officers in charge of foreign and insular stations; and medical officers in charge of United States veterans' hospitals will submit a separate estimate of their probable requirements for each of the fiscal years 1924 and 1925 out of the appropriation Salaries and Expenses. This estimate, the purpose of which is to show the object of expense and personnel by grades, will be completed and in the hands of the budget officers, United States Veterans' Bureau, not later than June 15, 1923. 2. Subdistrict offices and resident vocational schools will submit their estimates to the office of the district manager, who in turn will consolidate them with the district office estimate. The district manager will then submit the consolidated report as an estimate for his district for the periods mentioned, along with the individual district office, subdistrict office, and vocational school estimates as revised and approved by the district manager. 3. Medical officers in charge of United States veterans' hospitals will submit their estimates to the budget officer through the assistant director in charge of the medical division, United States Veterans' Bureau, Washington, D. C. 4. The superintendent, Vocational School No. 1, will submit this estimate to the budget officer through the acting assistant director in charge of the rehabilitation division, United States Veterans' Bureau, Washington, D. C. 5. The representatives in charge of supply depots will submit their estimates to the budget officer through the acting assistant director in charge of the supply division, United States Veterans' Bureau, Washington, D. C. 6. The officers in charge of foreign and insular stations will submit their estimates to the budget officer through the assistant director in charge of medical division, United States Veterans' Bureau, Washington, D. C. 7. Estimates will cover the following points: (a) All personnel necessary for the operation of the district, hospital, or other station for the fiscal year, including detailed and part-time employees: (1) The personnel of each division and section of the district office, hospital, or other field station, and each section of each subdistrict office will be listed according to the standard list of designations furnished by this bureau, but under each of the standard designations the employees will be separated by designations used in the office where employed, and under each designation they will be further classified by salary grades. For instance, 12 file clerks at $960 and 10 file clerks at $840 would appear under the standard designation of clerk among other clerical designations which may be used. (2) In addition to base salary of detailed personnel, any allowances received also will be shown. 8. The following is quoted from the wording of the appropriation salaries and expenses, 1924, which is to be used as a guide in making up these estimates: Salaries and expenses of the central office at Washington, District of Columbia, and regional offices and suboffices, and including salaries, stationery, and minor office supplies, furniture, equipment and supplies, rentals and alterations, heat, light, and water, miscellaneous expenses, including telephones, telegrams, freight, express, law books, books of reference, periodicals, ambulance service, towel service, laundry service, repairs to equipment, storage, ice, taxi service, car fare, stamps and box rent, traveling and subsistence, salaries and expenses of employees engaged in field investigation, passenger-carrying and other motor vehicles, including purchase, maintenance, repairs, and operation of same, salaries and operating expenses of the Arlington Building and annex, including repairs and mechanical equipment, fuel, electric current, ice, ash removal, and miscellaneous items; and including the salaries and allowances, where applicable, wages, travel and subsistence of civil employees at the United States veterans' hospitals, supply depots, dispensaries, clinics, and vocational schools. 9. Attached hereto is sample of form desired in submitting estimates, as well as a statement of expenditures from this appropriation for the period from July 1, 1922, through February 28, 1923. Figures from the latter report are furnished the districts as a basis in estimating their probable 1924 and 1925 expenditures. 10. It is believed that a further reduction can be made in the personnel of the field offices and stations of the bureau, and you are requested to survey all offices and stations under your jurisdiction and submit a statement not later than June 15, giving the names and designations of all personnel that can be released on July 1. FRANK T. HINES, Director. |