Omaha daily bee., 1921-08-05
Dope Sold
At Soldier
Hospital
Secret Service Agent Says Nor
phine and Cocaine Were ,
Peddled on Grounds at
Johnson City, Tenn. 81
Walsh Asks Prosecution
By GRAFTON S. WILCOX.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire
Washington, Aug. 4.-Snagged by
an unexpected display of congress
sional indifference, the Sweet bill
encountered still further delay while
the senate committee of soldiers re.
lief listened to disclosures of the
most revolving nature yet revealed
in connection with the governments
neglect of disabled veterans. The
relief bill, although ready to become
law, it was discovered, is still lying
on the vice presidents table awaiting
signature with no one in Washing
ton authorized to sign it.
Vice President Coolidge Is in New
England and Senator Cummins, the
president pro tempore, is i'll at At
lantic City.
Imminent need for enactment of the
bill was emphasized by further re.
velations of serious conditions at the
Johnson City (Tenn.) hospital for
tubercular ex-service men. Last week
Col. Charles R. Forbes, director of
the war risk bureau, called this in-
stituton "a mad house" Today,
Senator Walsh of Massachusetts
characterized it as a "hell hole" and
called upon the attorney general to
begin prosecution OF the officers in
charge for malfeasance in office.
Detective Testihes.
/ Testimony adding shocking details
of conditions at Johnson City was
given by M. P. MdInerney, a secret
service agent in the employ of the
war risk bureau, who obtained ad.
mission to the hospital and spent a
week there as a disabled ex-service
man.
On the night of his arrival Nc.
lnerney said he bought bottle of
mocnshine and dozen morphine
tablets on the hospital grounds from
peddler who boldly solicited him.
On the next night he visited an ad-
Joining dope house" and purchased
"a block of snow" for ST. For the
convenience of patients unable to
walk as far as the dope house."
cocaine dispensers with needle in
hand, patrolled the hospital grounds
to furnish their wares to the disabled
veterans at so much per shot," he
testified.
An extensive red light" district
is located close to the hospital and
in addition prostitutes loitef about
the grounds, he said. If the guards
drive them off, they merely move
across the street. Professional gam
blers watch the arrival of war risk
compensation checks with eager
eyes, and, aided by loaded dice and
marked cards, they soon fleece the
ex-service men of their monthly al
lowances.
Forbes Urges Action.
About $50 patients are receiving
treatment at the hospital. 1t is under
the jurisdiction of the national home
tor disabled volunteer soldiers, the
organization which has charge of
The homes for civil war veterans.
Colonel Forbes urged the commit
tee to enact legislation promptly
to place such institutions as the
Johnson City hospital under the iur-
lsdiction of the war risk bureau,
or under the veterans bureau pro-
vided for in the Sweet bill.
Unless immediate action is taken
to correct conditions at Johnson
City, we will have as many casual
ties there IS we had in the world
from an equal number of men,"
Colonel Forbes told the commit
tee.
In view of the probability of de.
lay in getting such legislation
through congress, Senator Walsh
advocated prompt action by the De-
partment of Justice and declared
that the country should be informed
about the "hell hole" to which il
was sending its disabled veterans.
An appeal may be made also to the
Y. M. {. A. and the Knights of Co.
lumbus to help remedy conditions.
Hope was expressed either that
Vice President Coolidge would :e-
turn from his vacation or that let
ter would be received tomorrow
from Senator Cummins at Atlantic
City designating senator to SIGN
bills until he recovers.