The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1921-06-30
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WASHINGTON LETTER.
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Washington, D. C.,--Although some
people speak in deprecating language
Of the time Committees of Congress
spend upon Investigations, there have
been a number Of demonstrations in
the past few months Of the value of
such inquiries. Investigations con-
Quoted by Committees of Congress do
not in any way hamper the legislative
work Of that branch of the Govern
ment. Other Committees handling leg
islation consider the bills submitted to |
them and make their reports, and the
bills are discussed on the floor and
enacted or defeated according to the
judgment of the majority of the mem
bers of each house. The investigating
committees take the testimony of wit
nesses and make reports which place
before the public full statement of
facts regarding important public bust
ness
1t was only through the agency of
Congressional committee that the
facts were disclosed showing the enor-
nous waste of Nancy, the favorltism
to friends and the delay in produc-
ton, in the management of the Air
craft Bureau during the war. Con-
gressional Investigations did much to
stop the waste and hasten the prep
aration for Americas full participa-
ton nthe European conflict. It seem
ed to be impossible to get either the
facts of remedy for evils through the
executive departments where the Off
cials through sort Of common inter-
est seem disposed to keep the facts
from becoming public.
1t was through the activity of Mem
hers Of Congress that the public be-
came aware of the mistreatment Of
soldiers in the training camps early in
the war an dthe inadequate provision
made TO rthe preservation of their
Health. Ever since the war 1t has been
chiefly through the insistence of men,
, bers of Congress that similar evils
have been exposed
, One Of the latest instances Of a
, grievous wrong which deserved pub
, lie exposure and condemnation was
, the treatment Of disable veterans who
, protested against conditions at Gov.
eminent relief schools and vocational
] training camps. The treatments thes
I veterans were receiving became so
) bad that the local organization of the
3 American Legion appointed commit
tee to formulate complaint and sub
. NIT a petition for relief to the officers
t of the Board of Vocational Education
q at Washington. This protest later
e found its way to a Senate Committee
Y where the complainants were given ar
: opportunity to state their grievances
n and to meet the commanding officers
e against whom they complained. Wher
d these witnesses were called some o
e them declined to testify. asserting tina
s they were afraid to do so because the.
e would prabably be dismissed from tn
S vocational training school as a pen
@ atty. 1t was only upon the assurance
e that the Senate would not permit then
e to be dismissed for that reason, tina
n they gave their testimony. 1t wa
shown that after members Of the com
e mittee filed their protest they wer
dismissed from the Government Voca
e tional Training Camp even thougl
n some of them weer suffering from tn
berculosis and we're in great need o
b medical attention. It was also state
by Of members of the Senate that al
If officer Of the training camp had re
ii ferred to these complaining veteran
l. as nuts" Although the officer at frs
If denied that he had used that expires
IS sion, he was on cross-examinatior
10 forced to admit 1t.
al 1t is apparent that the complaint
n in this particular case arose unde
re. officials appointed b ythe previous ad
is ministration. 1t is also apparent ths
IN the facts would not have come to pull
n lie attention an drelief would hav
OF been long delayed, II ever secured,
ed left entirely to officers of the trail
Ee ing camp. BY dismissing or threaten
at ing to dismiss compliments the o
to Ulcers of the camp were able to SUI
III press the facts.
t. The right Of petition to Congre'
by guaranteed by the Constitution Is sti
er one of the principal safeguards Of Il
w liberties an drights Of American cit
e. gems.