Omaha daily bee., 1920-11-29
'fJT's VI bled
Sold
T. ". GALBRAITH, JR.
American Legion Commander
Scores Government for Poor
Care of Wounded World
War Veterans.
Officials Admit Charges

Chicago Tribune Omahs Bee Leased Wire
Washington. D. c., Nov. 2S.-The
United States is negiscting disabled
veterans OF the World war, Col. T.
N. Galbraith, jr., national comman-
der of the American Legion, charged
here. Responsible government Off
cials did not deny the charge.
Gallbrai!hs accusation was made
in connection with the conference
OF the legion disqualification commit
tee, which at the end of a days work,
had prepared Il tentative bill to be
submitted 10 congress, whereby all
federal activities connected with dis
charged disabled veterans of the war
will be co-crdinated under one head.
The legion hopes % cut the red
tape which now surrounds the dis
abled soldier. II VIII recommend to
congress plan whereby the needy
veteran will get ac.Ion instead OF
letters whi>!i pass responsibilities to
some other government bureau.
Heads of government bureaus con-
nected with the rehabilitation Of SOL
diers attended the conference. They
offered no objections to the proposal,
realizing that it would have been
useless to combat the storm of in-
dignation among World war veter-
ans at the alleged shabby treatment
their unfortunate comrades are re-
ceiving.
To Use All Pressure.
That the legion intends to bring
to bear all of its influence to have
congress adopt the proposed legis-
lation was made clear. The co-ordi-
nation bill will be given precedent
over all other American Legion rec
concentrations.
"The American Legion is going
to make the people of this country
realize that the men who offered
their lives, gave of themselves, and
their blood for the security and the
welfare Of their nation, are returned
heroes to whom they owe a big debt
of gratitude" Galbraith said.
"The condition of these disabled
men is fr;ghtful, and we propose to
take immediate steps to see that they
are personally cared for by their
debtors-the people OF the United
States.
THE government has not laid a
brick, nor set up bed for the care
of the 10000 disabled men, although
the armistice was signed two years
ago. @ ...-........ .-...--..-..
Conditions Frightful.''
Conditions in the temporary,
makeshift hospitals that have been
provided by the public health service
are simply frightful. The tempor-
ary hospital at Markelton, Pa, is a
disgrace to the nation and should be
abandoned at once as unfit for
dog to live in.
"Ten thousand disabled men are
quartered in cellars, poorhouses and
insane asylums. Thousands OF men
are breaking down mentally and
physically as result of the hard
ships they endure in the service of
their country, and they are entitled
TO the best care that this wealthy ma
ton can afford"
Colonel Jones, head of the war
risk insurance bureau, was present
at the conference of the legislation
committee, but they carefully avoid
ed making any protest at Galbraith's
complaint.
, Dr.. c. w. Lavinder, an assistant
surgeon general, in charge Of hos
pitals for the public health service,
admitted that Galbraitf,'s charge is
true, but he blamed congress, insist
ing that economical legislators are
The American Legion committees
bill will provide that the examina-
ton, treatment, disqualification, COM
pensation and rehabilitation training
of soldiers b. under one cabinet de-
partment. and directly under an as
sistant secretary. At present these
functions are distributed among the
treasury, war and navy departments
and independent bureaus.