Evening star., 1921-08-10
PRESIDENT CONFERS
W|THCOL.F0RBES
Organization of New Vet
erans' Bureau Discussed;
Public Statement Soon.
BRANCHES ARE COMBINED
All Government Activities for
Wounded Soldiers Brought
Under One Head.

Initial steps in the organization of
the newly created Veterans Bureau
We're talked over at a long conference
today between President Harding and
Charles II. Forbes. who was confirmed
yesterday as director of the bureau.
1t was indicated that Col. Forbes
probably would make a public state
ment within a day or two relating
to the purposes of the new agency.
Meantime work was begun toward
the assembling of the various minor
branches of government service
which are to be grouped under the
Education Board and other agencies
affected by the new law are to be
moved with the least possible delay.
into the building which has been
occupied by the war risk bureau. and
which will be given over entirely to
the new Veterans Bureau
Director Has Hands Full.
Col. Forbes as director of the Vet
erans' Bureau will have his hands full
attending the many duties which fall
under this office. He has the respon-
sibility of solving the problem of pro-
viding disqualification for all eX-serV-
ice men who have been war crippled
or dlSa bled in any way.
Supplementing the hospital con-
struction program, for which SlS.6O0.-
000 has already been appropriated and
plans for the disbursement of which
through the Treasury Department
are under way, the new director IS
now given authority to enter in con-
tract with state, municipal or private
hospitals for the accommodation at
once of those veterans in pressing
need of hospital care.
Rigid inspection of these hospitals
will now be under his management.
and the administration of them as
business institutions as well as their
function as havens of sympathetic
care and rest for the disabled.
The 26.630 war risk patients now
being cared for in the 500 private and
the ninety government hospitals at
present available for their use, and
the 1000 average monthly increase of
these wards requiring treatment are
to look to him as the guardian of
their care.
Doctors who in the past have made
over million examinations of aprli-
cantS for compensation under the
war risk act. and the United States
public health physicians. who have
furnished, in dispensarieS almost a
million and half treatments annual
ly. are now accountable to him as
commander-in chief. this complete
authority being now transferred from
the United States puhlic heath serv-
ice to the Veterans Bureau
The task Of restoring to the war
disabled man his former earning
capacity or creating in him new one
through that vocational rehabilitation
which it is the duty of the federal
government to supply to former serv-
ice men now depends for its solution
on the new directorship.
Under the act which created the
nSn oy,'c p,1r n
duties" in behalf of the service man
formerly vested in the Federal Board
for Vocational Education pass to
Director Forbes to carry on.
Hends Insurance Bureau.
He is the head of an insurance busi-
ness of 65l. .05f active policies. 397.S9O
term twar risk) policies with a
Commuted value of s2,9SO. 1850. .235. and
1856 policies of United States gov
crnment insurance with a value OF
81. 900. .7O2,50O.
He is responsible for the average