Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-07

partment OF penn-
sylvania and all other States to urge
immediate action.
The specific point at which the care
fully thought -out plan to get prompt
ana efective consideration for the serv-
zee men is being attacked, according to
Solonel Galbraith. is in Section @. Of
tne Sweet bill, which has been amended
pf House Committee, after Il was re-
ported favorably by the SUBJ committee
In charge of the bill.
Compensation Prevented
By the amendment district Offices to
De established under the War Risk In
surance Bureau are prevented from
making compensation and insurance
awards, and from granting vocational
framing. This power was asked by the
Legion after an exhaustive survey
which showed the distress and some
times the death among service men
which result from delay necessary TO
have claims acted upon at Washington,
A bulletin sent by Colonel Galbraith
yesterday to all departments, and to ali
national executive committeeman of the
Legion. follows in part:
You know that the American Legion
mas for more than two years urged
nLtn the Congress that the Bureau of
War Risk Insurance be decentralized
and consolidated, or co -ordinated. with
the United States public health service
and the rehabilitation division Of the
tion. D'"
Enactment of this program into law
mas failed in previous sessions of Con-
gress. Recently special committee
headed by Mr.. Charles G. Dawes. act
ing with direct authority from the
President. investigated the Govern
ments failure to make adequate pro-
vision for disabled veterans. After
thorough study Of the situation the
committee recommended. on April s,
that consolidation and decentralization
OF the above named bureaus was abso-
iutely necessary IL the distressing con-
dltions surrounding the disabled we're
to be remedied.
Many Hearings Held
On April II Mr.. Sweet. of Iowa.
introduced II. X. No. 3, a bill to estab.
Iish in the Treasury Department
Veterans Bureau, and to improve the
facilities and service of such bureau
and further to amend and modify the
war Risk Insurance. Act Extensive
bearings have been held on this bill. !
There can be no doubt that decen-
tralization Of the War Risk Bureau and
ordination with the other two bu-
ieaus is vital. Section 6 of Fl. r. 3 |
90 provides, in the following language
'That the director shall establish
central office in Washington, D. c.,
aud not more than fourteen regional
Offices and such sub Offices within the
territory Of the United States and its
outlying possessions as may be deemed
necessary by him and in the best in
terests of the work committed to the
Veterans Bureau, and to carry out the |
purposes of this act
section 9, as amended, is unsatis- |
factory. AS originally worded BY Mr..
Sweet, it will do the Job for the dis
abled. AS altered by the committee
OF the whole it will be impotent and
unsatisfactory.
Senator Smoot, of Utah, has intro.
duced a Senate bill that Is virtually |
the same as the unamended Sweet bill. |
II Is satisfactory in its present form |
and will do the job.
I'm order that our two-year fight |
for the disabled shall not be nulifed |
now at the last minute when victory for
the disabled Is within our grasp, il is
imperative that you Immediately wire
your representative in Congress to sun
port the Sweet bill, H. r. No. 8, with
Section 9 as originally drawn. Your
wire Will influence the form in which
II will be passed. cannot overstress
the necessity for haste in this matter.
We expect the Sweet bill to pass the
House in some form or another by
June IT,"