The Washington times., 1921-06-04
RED CROSS PROBE
BY CONGRESS IS
ASKED BY VOLK
Wants Full Light Turned on
Financial Affairs and Treat
ment of Disabled Vets.

Congressman Lester ID. Volk of New
iork, late yesterday introduced In the
iiouse a resolution calling for a
sweeping investigation OF the Red
Cross
The investigation Is not to be con-
fined to the one specific character OF
irregularity disclosed in affdavits of
disabled soldiers published in the New
York American, but Is to be broad
investigation of all the financial af-
fairs of the Red Cross.
In this connection the New York
American will offer to Congress some
unpublished evidence that will stsrtle
the American public.
Nolk's resolution. follows:
whereas, the American Red Cross
is an organization incorporated by
Act of Congress for certain purposes
and among it's activities Is the care
OF shell-shocked, wounded, and dig
abled veterans of the world war:
Whereas, since the termination Of
the world war many thousands of
shell-shocked, wounded. and disabled
veterans have applied to the American
Red Cross for such services as 1t has
held itself out to the public as ready
and willing to perform:
GETS MILLIONS YEARLY.
Whereas. in order to carry out It's
purpose the American Red Cross So
licits and receives subscriptions from
the American people amounting to
many millions of dollars yearly;
Whereas, statements appeared on
May rs, 1921, and daily thereafter in
the columns OF the New York Ameri-
can, showing that many disabled sol
diers applied to the New York and
Brooklyn chapters of the American
Red Cross and were referred py the
officials OF these organiza tons TO
private law firms. who charged fees
for their services and exploited she'll
shocked veterans as a means of pri-
vate gain;
Whereas. the statements, II true.
would show that this exploitation OF
the disabled veteran for private gain
is done with the knowledge of the Of
ficials of these chapters of the Amer
lean Red Cross:
Whereas, the hundreds IF thous-
sands of people who contribute yearly
to the support of this organization do
so in the belief that the American HE'D
Cross has the sanction and approval
of the officials and bureaus of this
and is performing these
functions;
Whereas, the subscribers OF these
vast funds are entitled to know In
what manner the American Red Cross
performs it's aforesaid functions and
how these vast sums are being
handled and where they are expended;
TO GET WHOLE TRUTH.
Therefore. be IL resolved, that a
select committee of fve members Of
the House be appointed by the
Speaker and IL authorized, directed,
and empowered to investigate and
procure all facts and to inquire into
the truth of the statements that have
appeared in the New York American
as aforesaid: the relations OF the
American Red Cross to the United
States bureaus and other Government
a gencies, and to what extent these
agencies have delegated their powers
and rely on the American Red Gross
for the care of wounded and disabled
soldiers; the various kinds OF service
performed; what moneys are received
by the American Red Cross from the
and from the public, and
the manner OF handling and distri-
how much is spent upon salaries for
officers and what amount is dis
tributed for relief; what fees, IL any.
are exacted from individuals apply
ing to the American Red Cross for
assistance; the relation between the
American Red Cross and private
q gencies TO whom the applicant is re-
ferred: to inquire into the relations
between the American Red Cross,
the Government of the United States,
the public at large, and the returned
shell-shocked and disabled
soldiers"