Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-01-26
Mr.. Calder Says Congress
Will Provide Money for
Laundry Bills.
WOUNDED MEN SHOULD
NOT BE IMPOSED UPON
Legislators Say Country Should
Assure Comfort for Heroes at
Walter Reed.

a4eCA AsOCN.
Denouncing as an Outrage" the
government regulation which requires
wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Hos
pital to do their own washing, Senator
William M. Calder of New York said
last night that after consultation with
some of his colleagues he would pre-
pare resolution dealing with the sub
jeet, for submission to the Senate.
Senator Calder said if money is
needed to pay the laundry bills he
will ask Congress to appropriate it.
Senator Johnson of South Dakota, a
democrat and personal friend of the
Secretary of War. said he would see
Mr.. Baker about the matter tomor-
row morning. Senator johnson said
he was sure Secretary Baker knew
nothing of the trials to which the
| heroes who have lost arms and legs
are subjected. The senator declared
that if military regulation required
| laundry the regulation ought to be
! changed or ignored.
Amazed at Disclosure.
"I am amazed at this disclosure"
said Senator Calder. Every member
of Congress had always thought that
the wounded boys were receiving
every possible attention and every
possible care. And now / am in
formed for the first time that these
gallant fellows are obliged. under the
! most distressing circumstances. to do
their own washing. If the authorities
would provide them with a laundry
in which to do their washing it would
not be so bad. But even then. at least
until they are equipped with artificial
limbs. they ought not to be required
to do this kind of work.
Congress is prepared to vote any
sum Of money necessary to provide
the boys with comforts. There is
nothing that any member would not :
do to make things easier for them
and enable them to overcome the
handicap which their af11iction I'm
poses. It seems unbelievable that
simply because of some preposterous
and antiquated military regulation
they should be forced not only to do
their own washing, but to do it in
common bathtubs of their wards.
IF this is an expression Of the
country's gratitude one could hardly
blame the boys if they receive
obviously the shouts of acclaim
which greet them on every hand IT
let one be built While it is in process
of erection let the boys send their cloth
ing to laundry at government expense.
Congress will gladly pay the bills"
Should Have Everything Needed.
Senator johnson said a man who
had lost an arm or a leg should be
treated as sick patient until dis
charged from the service, and as such
he should be given the best of food.
a comfortable bed, and everything
that he cannot conveniently do for
himself should be done for him.
God knows we owe the boys these
considerations said the South Da-
kota senator. IF they are denied
them through military regulation
then military regulation should be
changed or ignored. 1t is ridiculous
to say that because the regulations
do not provide for the payment by
the government of the cost of doing
-
ernment shouldn't pay the bill.
am sure any auditor would not crit
,cally examine an item OF that char
acter.
But don't blame Secretary Baker.
am sure he does not know or the
condition complained Of IL he had
known such conditions would have
been changed long ago. AS I have
already said, the boys are entitled to =
every consideration we can show
them. They should be given deli
cacies not provided for in the or
dinary soldier bill of fare. They
should not be required to confine
themselves to the diet given the un-
wounded men. They have earned
better treatment
ct shall see the Secretary on Mon
dav and will call his attention to this
matter. I am quite sure he viii rem
edy it,
Mr.. Spencer Ridicules Claim.
Senator Spencer of Missouri ridi-
cuIed the claim that government reg
ulation required the men to do their
washing. He said all that was nee
essary on the part of the authorities
vas to detail men. and women. too. II.
necessary, for the duty Of doing the
soldiers laundry. and 1t would be
done.
.sThe story to me is revolving In
the extreme" said Senator Spencer.
Here is a great rich country. In
habited by a generous and warm
hearted people. apparently denying to
the men who saved It from humilia-
ton and possible invasion tho conn
monest of comforts. and all beoanSe
the Army regulations do not provide
for the relief that these men are en- y