Evening Star Newspaper, February 13, 1921, Page 31

. . Congress Stirred to Action by Public Indignation 4 ISPECIAL ARTICLES Part 2—18 F Hoyv Veterans of the World War Suffer Fro - Offici Unn Red Tape Imposes essary Hardships on Disabled Men. NCLE SA ‘who has been nodding vhile disabled soldiers off the world war failed of proper care and compensation, is }at last being prodded into actioll. It is time, if the testimony given before com- mittees of Congr¢ss can be De- lieved. For there are former sol- diers in hospitals today, two years and two months after the cessation of hostilitles—somie of them with dependent families—who have not received a nickel ,’ot the govern- ment compensation to which they are entitled. Appjicants for com- pensation for vocitional training and even for hospital treatment wait for months bjfore awards are day was celel touched the high ond inaugural addtess, urging the proper care of mes who bore the ‘brunt of battle fof their country’s sake. He said: “With malice tofrard none, with charity for all th firmness in the right as God gjves us tosee the right, let us stri*e{on to finish the work we are in, fo|bind up the na- tion’s wounds, to cgre for him who shall have borne tHe battle and for his widow and Ir.s an, to do all which may ach'evd and cherish a now, more than the close of another great war it appears that the 5 lished to-care for diers is otit of g Congress are gettihg behind a pro- n—already in the Department of the rior. This means the war risk ‘bureau,, which looks fatter the compensation of the dis- abled; the Federal Board for Voca- tional Education, which seeks to train the disabled to play their parts in the workaday world again. and the public health serv- jce which looks after the ills of these men. 2. The erection of sufficient hos- pitals to care for the men who need medical attention. 3. The enactment of legislation eontained in the so-called Wason ®ill, which has passed the House, ‘but has Deen tied up in the Senate finance committee for the last eight or ten months. This measure pro- vides for the establishment of four- teen regional branches of the war risk insurance burean and as many suboffices as may be needed. It makes possible the payment of premiums on the government in- surance through any post office, and relieves from the payment of premiums on their government in- syrance all disabled men in hos- pitals or taking vocational train- Revelations. ing, and all disabled men tempo- rarily unable to follow any gain- ful occupation. The bill also ex- tends the time in which ex-service men may apply for hospital treat- ment from one year after dis- charge to one year after the pas- sage of the act. 4. Retirement for disabled offi- cers of the emergency forces on the same footlng that retirement is now enjoyed by officers of the Regular Army. Incidentally, this has already been granted the emer- f.éncy officers of the Navy. It is un- sust to discriminate between the diwAled emergency officers of the Army and those of the Navy, and also unjust to “accord different treatment to the disabled emer- gency officers and the regular of- ficers of the Army. * % % % The country and Congress are only just awakening to the mag- nitude of the task of caring for the disabled men who took part in the world war. In the contro- versy which has waBed over ‘Wwhether the soldiers should be given a “bonus,” the troubles of the wounded, the diseased and the insane have been more or less cast into the background. There has never been any controversy Er the fact that the fullest aid ould be granted the disabled m. Every one has agreed to hat proposition. It merely has not been dome, as the facts brought to light in recent weeks have indicated. Figures are dry reading.. But they sometimes tell graphic tales. For instance, 641,000 men who donned the uniform of the United States during the war hold dis- <harges "which indicate various “Gegrées of disability. Already 268,802 of these men have been judged 10 per cent or more dis- abled and entitled to compensa- tion under the war risk insurance act. More than 125,000 of them have been pronounced vocational- 1y bandicapped, and 60,000 of them are recelving vocational training from the government. It is estimated that 80,000, men with disabilities traceable to, their service have asked and received: hospital ‘treatment from -the. gov- ernment. It is sald that 5000 enter the hospitals every.munth, against 3,500 who leave the hos- pitals—an increase of 1,500 men seeking hospital treatment every thirty days. The disabilities of the men have been classified to a considerable extent. Of the 641,000 discharged with disabilities, 46,310 have been classed as tubercular, 76,588 < as mental and nervous ‘cases, 75,000 as surgical, 62,369 as eye, ear, Dose and throat cases, 22,847 as miscellaneous. and 229,338 as medical. The rest have not been classified. * ¥ * % ‘When Congress put through the war risk insurance act and the vocational rehabilitation act it was inclined to pat itself on the back. It seemed that the last thing in the way of aid for the disabled had been accomplished. The legis- lation was good, there is no doubt, and has accomplished good. But, judging from the protests, the op- Capital Shows But BY N. 0. MESSENGER. N less than three weeks the coun- try will experience the passing of control of the government from the hands of one political party to another, the result of several million voters having apparently changed their politics last November _for the time being, at least. It may well be, however, that they did not abandon their convictions, but, being dissatisfied with the way things were going and not pleased Wwith ecither the policies of the party in power nor the men proposed to carry them out for the future, merely said: “Here, you republicans, take over the job of running the government, and see what you can do with it.” And if they don't like the way it is done— well, out with the republicans two and four years hence. The American voters have developed within the experience of this genera- tion a habit of swift and terrible ret- ribution upon political parties and politicians who do not measure up to their expectations. They have also contracted a robust tendency for “a change,” sometimes without rhyme or reason—to the victims of it, any- how. Nineteen days hence the “change® ordered November 2 last will set in and will operate until it is manifest in every state, town and county when federal offices are taken over by republicans. . * % % * The National Capital. where the change will principally function, shows little outward sign of the com- ing transformation. In fact, it shows o sign at all. Nobody is alive who saw-one- President ride to the Capilol'lnterion, a-horseback, hitch his nag until he took the oath of office, and then em- ble back to the White House through the mud on Pennsylvania avenuer In times which the oldest inhabitants can recall Washington at this period Lefore inauguration would be bustling Famous Engineer Backed For Seat in the Cabinet lent-clect Harding in be- make Secretary of the EDITORIAL SECTION he Sundiny Stat. l Society News | WASHINGTON, D. C, SUNDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 13, 1921 i TN e rAEER - == ¥ ol T n 9 \‘; il iy i v‘ [\ ] (Y TCTT | KT il A1) IIIH!I 7k i K 1] "!l'lllll! nr “TO CARE FOR HIM WHO SHALL HAVE BORNE THE BATTLE.” eration of these laws has not been perfect by any means. It is now claimed by members of the Senate and House that thou- sands of former service men are in almshouses, asylums and even Jjails, and other thousands receiv- ing private charity. ‘The -problem of caring for the ¥ disabled former ‘service mem is one that will grow with the years instead of subsiding—at least for the next decade, it is estimated. ‘The “peak load” of the government in caring for these men probably will come around 1932. What has happened in’the past is not infre- quently a good index of what must be expected in the future. Glance for a moment at the results of the civil war and what the govern- ment was called upon to do for the disabled veterans of that conflict. In the thirty-six years following that war. 579,115 invalid claims were allowed. That was for an army of 2,400,000 men. But you have some 5,041,470 veterans of the world war. If the ratio of claims for disability hold good, there should be 1,209,950 claims for dis- ability by these Veterans during the thirty-six years following the signing of the armistice. * ¥ % x ‘Without doubt, the country is going to be compelled to dpend billions of dollars in compensation to these disabled men and in their care. It has been estimated—con- servatively so, it is said—that the number of veterans who must have hospital care will at one time grow from 20,000 to 50,000, and appli- cants for vocational training in- stead of numbering 125,000 will number 300,000. It is not unlikely that claims for compensation al- lowed will reach the half billion mark. The statement was made recently by the surgeon general of the pub- lic health service that 10,000 addi- tional beds in hospitals are ur- gently needed for the care of tu- bercular and mentally diseased former service men. This does not take into account the beds needed for men suffering from other ail- ments. He said that on January 1, 1921, there were 19,019 disabled ex- service men under treatment by the public health service as pa- tients of the bureau of war risk —_— insurance. Of these men, 7,536 were suffering from tuberculosis, 5,690 from mental disorders and 5743 with medical and surgical disabilities. . Nearly one-half of these men were in contract or leased insti- tutions. Senator Capper of Kan- sas, who has taken a keen inter- est in the problems of the ex- service men and their care, insists that the surgeon general might also have reported that many of the men have landed in state in- sane asylums, along with the criminal and pauper insane, and that many of them were arrested, thrown into jail and then commit- ted to insane asylums, and that a number of them have been found in county institutions for the poor. The public health service has been m Neglect Legislation Is Under Way to Remedy Conditions Nearing Scandal. Pledge of Lincoln Recalled to Care for Him Who Bore the Battle. paying about $3 a day for the care of the former service men in some 1,200 hospitals, asylums and other in- stitutions, where they have been placed. The revelation of these facts —due in large part to the activities of the American Legion and other or- ganizations of the veterans—has spurred Congress to tackle the prob- lem of providing additional govern- ment hospital facillties as speedily as possible. The sundry civil appropriation bill now in conference carries $6,100,000 to provide 2275 additional hospital beds for patients of the bureau of war risk insurance and the Federal Board of Vocational Education, at the following “place; Boston, New York, Perryville, Md.; Nor- folk, ¥a.; Whipple Barracks, Ariz.; Chicago, Lake City, Fla.; Atlanta, Louisville, Fort Bayard, N. M. Fvansville, Ind. and Pittsbugkh. Of this sum $600,000 is to be avail- able for increasing the hospital facilities at Fort McKenzie, Wyo., and Fort Walla Walla, Wash. The Secretary of the Treasury is direct- ed to take over immediately those forts for this purpose. He is direct- ed to take over immediately these Roots, Ark. Further the bill carries $1,500,000 to be used to erect o purchase ad- ditional hospitals, the Secretary of ‘War being authorized to select the site with the approval of the Presi- dent. The Langley bill, which passed the House, proposes the erection of five new hospitals at a cost of $2,500,000 each, ome in the central Atlantic states, one in the Great Lakes re- glon, one in the central southwest- ern states one in the, Rocky moun. tain ‘sfates, and one in southern " Califormia. This -measure: confam: plates”tHe expendltirs” of $500,000, to .improve - hospital facilities at. . Fort McKenste 4nd Fort Walla WHRHESWIN. instructions that these 5 lurned over to the Sec- retary of the Treasury. Senator Robinson of Arkansas, made valiant efforts during the con- sideration of the sundry civil bill in the Senate, to have the amount for hospitalization increased to approxi- mately $30,000,000, $15,000,000 to be immediately available .and the re- mainder to become available during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1922. He hadthe backing of a number of other senators in this effort, but. the members of the.committee on appro- priations insisted that it would be physically impossible for the gov- ernment to expend so much for new hospitals during the coming year, and, although expressing great will- ingness to make all necessary ex- penditures, declined to accede to the amendment proposed by Senator Robinson. * % % x What will be the upshot of the ef- forts to merge the various govern- ment agencies now looking after the needs of the disabled soldiers re- mains to be seen. Semator Capper has fathered a bill for this purpose in_the Senate, and Representative Rogers of Massachusetts, has intro- duced a similar measure in the House. There is grave need of read- justment which will connect the separate units now handling the problems of the disabled former soldiers, according to Senator Caps per and Representative Rnl!l'rs‘. The hearings on the Rogers BIt before the House interstate and foreign commerce committee bear this out. The argument for re- organization of the whole ma- chinery has been directed against the system, rather than against the administration. though the ad- ministration has come in for its share of hard knocks. An outstanding complaint is delay. “Justice delayed is justice denied” the ex-service men say. The Secretary of the Treasury .is reported to have expressed the opinion that the bureau of wir risk insurance and the public health service could well be traps- ferred to some other branch of the executive, since their activ- ities have no relation to the fiscal operations of the government. Col. E. G. Cholmeley-Jones dire¢- tor of the bureau of war risk in- surance, agrees that it is unsatis- factory to administer separately lhg several services to (urmvrv service men, and the surgeon gen- eral of the public health servjee is quoted as having recommended some measure of co-ordination. The board for federal vocational cBucation, however, has not look- ed with favor on a merger. * % ¥ ¥ The testimony before the House committee when the Rogers bill - was being considered revealed de- lays in the operation of the sys-¢’ tem of aid for the former service men that were tragic. It was shown, for instance, by witnesses; that six weeks consti- tutes the average period required for the machinery to unwind after ~ a man males application for gov- ernmental aid, While in many cases the delay has. continued for six months of & year. It was shown, too, that many men in hospitals with dependent families have mnever received a dollar of compenszation to which they™ are gy~~~ titled. Thousands of men ceasing 1o be war risk bureau patients be- cause they were ready for voca- tional training lost compensation because when they were dropped from the war risk roll there was delay in having their names placed on the vocational training roil. Of the 1,300 hospitals in which the former service men are cared for, less than 100 are government owned or controlled. The men are farmed out to the others, and It has been impossible for the govern- ment to supervise all these hospi- tals. Men who are tubercular, it was testified, have not received the treatment to which they are en- titled. Further, it was brought out that a total of $220,000 has been over- paid to men who were not dropped * from the war risk bureau roll &t the same time they were placed dn the vocational training roll, and that the war risk bureau has been trying to get back some $10,000,000 over- payment of allotments and allow- ances disbursed because there was delay extending for weeks and some- times for months between the dis- charge of soldiers and the receipt (Continued on Third Page.) Few Outward Signs of Profound Changes Due March 4 He is not known to be “at outs”| He may fall afoul the hawse of ome with preparation. The splendid thor- oughfare which leads from the Capi- tol, to the White House, representing a “vista of magnificent distance,” would be flanked with sightseers’ stands and canopied with overhead wires. To- day no fragrance of new pine lumber greets the nostrils and the clang. of the hammer is not heard in the land. Mr. Harding will speed to the Cap- itol in a car, take the oath, deliver his inaugural address to a stand-up audience, and President Harding will motor to the White House through applauding thousands lining the side- walks. There will be no all-day pro- cession of troops and civic organi- zations as of yore, apd in two hours after the meridian the crowds will be dispersing, wondering what it was all about anyhow. The “change” will have been effected and a new President installed in the White House. * k k% The advance guard of the army of deserving republicans intent upon serving their country in official po- sition—for a consideration—is al- ready arriving and preparing to camp down while its members urge their claims. Senators and representatives who will be supposed to have “in- fluence” with the new administration are aware of their presence and their mail tells them of more in reserve. President Harding will have more offices Yo give out than President Wilson had at his disposal elght years ago, the Congress having created many desirable ‘additional holes in which to place patronage pegs during the democratic administration. One of the first propositions the new Rresident will encounter will be the suggestion that, as so many former democrats voted for him in Novem- ber, he might well give democrats a little “recognition” in administering the government. That is regarded as a monstrous suggestion by the famished repub- licans, who fear there will not be enough patronage to “go round,” as it is, and the mere broaching of it throws republican senators and rep- resentatives into a rage. * X X ¥ The most interesting feature in na- tional politics is the manifestation of returning consciousness by the demo. crats since the political heavens crashed. down on' them in November. Strangely enough—or, is it, as some democrats say, just true to form— their first evidence of recovery from the state of coma is to fall at each other's throats In a factional row. “Isn’t it remarkable,” says former Senator Bailey of Texas. “Here we are flat on our backs with seven mil- lion republican majority piled on top of us, and nothing must do but that we shall begin to quarrel over leader- ship.” Champ Clark, old war horse, is even more disgusted. “I am plumb out of patience with all this ruction,” he says. “Here are a lot of self-ap- pointed léaders running around to head the democratic procession for 1924. We'd a heap sight better round up enough democrats to make a pro- cession first. Then we can pick our own leader. It will be the course of the democratic party in Congress which will determine whether the oouniry wants uas or pot, I am sick 2 | and tired of this officiousness of)degree than in the past the Senate would-be leaders.” William J. Bryan holds that there are already “too many officers and not enough privates in the democratic army that is seeking to reform its shattered lines” and he is in favor of letting the “plain people”. of the democratic hosts do theé reorganizing of the party and the selecting of leaders. * K ok ok George White, the democratic na- tional chairman, who ordinarily is a mild-mannered and placid man, sud- denly developed into a two-fisted scrapper when a movement was start- ed last week to oust him from the chairmanship. To be sure, the enter- prise was camouflaged, but not suc- cesstully. While denying that there “was anything personal” in it, the proponents’ as good as said “Here's your hat; what's your hurry?” He has hung the hat back on the rack and allows he will stay and visit a while longer. That he intends to retire some time is thought to be certain, but he is not going to be put out until he “gets good and ready.” * * % % Republicans are not talking much about policies at this stage of the proceedings. Their policy will be a double-track affair — administrative and legislative. It will be determined by the action of President Harding in international affairs and the record of the majority in Congress in legis- lation on domestic questions. In the more important phases of interna- tional questions the Senate will have & voice, and henceforth to far greater | l l l will make itself heard. Reason can be assigned for this|ences are said to be at the minimum. prospect. In the first place, the con- test between President Wilson and the Senate over the treaty of Ver- sailles is regarded as having sharply accentusted the Senate's realization of its functions in treaty making. It has been charged that the submis- sion of democratic senators to the will of the executive, in many cases against their known judgment to the contrary, furnished a vivid object les- son to the Senate, warning it to be more *jealous of its constitutional function and prerogative. There was decp resentment on both sides of the chamber at the alleged ignoring of senatorial opinion in the framing of the treaty, contrary to recent prece- dent, although by some democratic senators expression of it was re- strained’ for party reasons. * % ¥ ¥ ‘Will Harding treely take the Senate into his confidence in approaching the international agreement which he and his party are pledged to undertake? The belief among republican senators is unanimously in the affirmative, that|” he will. Moreover, it is praphesied that he will also consult democratic opinion as he goes along, at least to the extent of welcoming its expres- sion upon the plans as they take form. President Harding will have this advantage, it is pointed out; he is fortunate to possess the personal ac- quaintance of the present member- ship, and probably.the new senators as well, and moreover has the friend- ship, esteem and affection of those|icedimce Leagon, with whom he has served. LY J \ with any senator, and factional differ- There are shadings of differences of of them over patronage, which would be natural enough if it should come about, but it is thought by his cel- opinion, but they are not classed as|leagues that he will remember the pronounced enough to warrant per-|sad experience of President Garfield, sonal estrangement or even coolness.|and take wisdom therefrom. Magazine Editor May Get Choice plomatic Berth COL. GEORGE HARVEY, choloe for mmbassador to He w) therefore be in a peculiarly adv: tageous pbsition to keep, in ciose touch with the Senate as the ratifying branch of treaty making, and, be aware of the existence of dangerous hurdles before he rides up on them. * & &% i One difficuity which republicans ap- prehend in early formulation of legis. lative policies is the existence of .the “new blood” in the House and Senate, and especially the proportion of it in the House. Probably a good many of the new representatives do mot them- selves know just what they will do as to policies and will let circum- stances as they arise bend them. There is speculation how far the Congress will be able to maintain jts distinctiveness as a co-ordinate branch of the government, free from being unduly swayed by the executive. It has been the fashion, in the past two years especially, to rail out in Con- gress against “executive dominatien.” Reams of debate on the subject clutter the records. It would not be far from, a shrewd guess that Senator Harding’s ances. “Shinny on your side,” has been the insistent demand §n Congress while there was a democratic President ‘in an likely to be President the White House. How will it be under President Harding? 5 (Oopyright, 1931, by The Washington Btat. speeches will show some such utter-— -