Evening star., 1920-11-27
FAVORS COMBINING
LEGION FUNCTIONS
Organization Meets Govern
ment Officials to Agree on
Reports to Congress.

American Legion representatives
gathered in Washington have taken
action in favor Of combining the func-
tfons of the war risk bureau. the vo-
cational training bureau and part, of
the work of the public health service,
and subcommittee from the leetpn
hospital zation committee Is meotdnE
with officials from the government
Offices this afternoon to agree on req
concentrations which Will be presented
to Congress.
The legion is In favor of what
would amount to q consolidation of
the three bureaus so far as their work
affects the men who served in the
world war. but the officials are OF the
opinion that, while the work should
be co-ordinated, each branch should
be kept separate.
It is to settle this point Of differ
ence that the meeting is being held
at the Raleigh Hotel this afternoon.
for both legion and government OIL
cials feel that the interests of the dis
abled men will best be served II all
forces are united on single program
Of legislation.
COmmittee to Draft.
Gen. John H. Sherbourne Of Boston
is chairman of the legion committee
charged with the work Of drafting a
measure acceptable to all interests.
The others are Abel Davis of Chicago,
chairman of the disqualification COM
mittee; DR.. Thomas w. Salmon OF
New York. A. A. Sprague of Chicago,
Robert S. Marx of Cincinnati and H
H. Raege of Washington.
A resolution adopted by the hos
pitalization committee was laid be-
fore a joint meeting of the committee
and the government officials this morn
ing and formed the basis Of discussion,
1,,,% u yHrk mi hcS ftr11
of the bureau heads.
LeEien's Plan.
The resolution sets forth that the
American Legion recommends to
Congress, for its early action. the
enactment of bill in the nature Of
a basic law, to have the functions of
the bureau Of war risk insurance, so
! much Of the functions of the Federal
BOARD for Vocational Education as
relates to the rehabilitation and vo-
cational training Of all former service
persons of the world war, and so
much of the functions Of the United
States public health service as re-
| lates to the medical examination,
| treatment and disqualification of all
world war. combined in a single bu-
reau of one department of the govern
mept under a single administrative
! head.
To this bureau all Of the activities
| mentioned shall be transferred with
the least possible delay. and it shall
| be charged with the sole responsibility
for the proper care, treatment, hos
| pitaliZation, rehabilitation and compen-
| sation of the ex-service men and wom-
en- of the world war, and the business
| OF their war risk insurance, and all
| the incidents thereto.
| Such a bureau. it is recommended
| should establish and maintain regional
/; offices. at least fourteen in number.
with such local offices as may be
| deemed necessary to establish prompt
! efficient personal contact in the field
/ with such ex-service persons, with
sufficient personnel and equipment I'd
| afford ALI of the services mentioned to
| any applicant entitled thereto with the
least possible delay.
| Legislation to provide better care
| for men disabled in the war. 5000 OF
| whom are now being cared for in pri.
| vate institutions, Is to be the first
| aim Of the American Legion's program
when Congress assemblies next month
| this announcement having been made
last night following a meeting of the
national disqualification committee.
The committee meeting was attend
| ed by Col. T. w. Galbraith, jr., ma.
| tional commander of the legion, and
[ by heads of the government bureaus
dealing with disabled service men. II
was estimated that expenditure OF
s39. 100000 would be required to pro
vide the government with enough
hospitals properly equipped to care
! for approximately 10000 disabled men
! Criticism was made of the treatment
|, being received by some of the gov.
| ernment patients who are being caree
! for in private hospitals, because there
is no room for them in the public
health service institutions. The gov.
ernment Is allowed to pay but So 8
day for such patients, and Col. Gal,
braith said that. thousands of men
whose bodies or minds were partly
wrecked by the war. are now housed
in cellars. or in overcrowded insane
asylums. Men who were discharged
shortly after the armistice are return.
Ing daily to be treated for ailments
they contracted in the service or fol
old wounds that are troubling them