The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-06
PROGRESS MADE ON
 PROBLEM OF AIDING
 DISABLED VETERANS
President Holds First Meeting With Special Commission Appointed to Inquire
 Into Situation
By Associated Press

Washington, April 5.-Progress in solving the governments problem of caring for ex-service men, whether sick or disabled or physically fit but having financial claims to be adjusted was made here today at the first meet ing of President Harding's special commission headed by Charles G. Dawes of Chicago. and appointed to inquire into the situation. It was agreed that the administrative ma chinery now operating separately in the several fields of soldiers relief should be consolidated under one cen traI authority, probably new execu- tive officer who would be responsible directly to the president.
 Heads of all the bureaus having to do with treatment of the war vet erans were present and in reply to questions fyom Chairman Dawes and Col. F. W. Galbraith, Jr., national com mander of the American Legion, said they, favored the general idea of a consolidated service bureau. This in dorsement, MT. Dawes said promised quick solution of the problem as 1t related to the general administration of aid for men who are alleged to have suffered under the system of divided governmental responsibility.
 ENDORSED BY CUMMING
 Among those who expressed indorse- ment of the plan for capitalization were Surgeon General Cumming of the public health service, who said he would be willing to bring his service under the plan So far as its work with soldiers is concerned; R. H. Haliett, acting director of the war risk bureau, and Uel Lamkin, director of the re- Mobilization division of the federal board for vocational education.
 MT. Lamxin also favored placing the public health service completely in charge of the proposed new executive head to the exclusion of all but sol dier work, but this suggestion brought from medical authorities present state ments that such a course would en- danger the national health.
 Brigadier General Charles E. Sawyer, who appeared as the Presidents per sonal representative, declared that the public health service should be con tinued as an entity. He was supported by others of his profession who as serted it would be an unwise step taken at the expense of the nations health. Chairman Dawes, however, ex-
 
 could be placed under the one director head without endangering the public health because the official in charge would not be an extremist who would Seek the betterment of soldiers to the detriment of the nation as whole.
 SPEED IS NECESSARY
 The essence of the whole thing MT. Dawes said in discussing the worS of the investigating commission, "is speed. Something remedial should be done without delay without waiting for construction of permanent hospi- tals. Soldiers now without treatment will have passed the stage where hos pitals will help them, if we wait"
 It was stated tonight that the com mission would complete its investiga- ton and present it's recommendations to President Harding by the weekend. At the suggestion of it's chairman the committee met tonight in executive session to consider the testimony heard during the day.
 Dr. Thomas w. Salmon of the Rocke- feller institute told the commission that one-half of the governments beds we're unsuitable for tubercular cases We know there are, four thousand such patients" he said. land five thousand mental sufferers who are to- day without treatment by the govern ment because they refl SC to go into charity and state institutions"
 The question of hospital facilities was threshed out at length. and re- suited in request from Thomas w. Miller, alien property custodian and former colonel n the army. that Chair man Doves poll the commission to as- certain whether it favored asking Congress to increase it's last appro- priation of SIS, 500, 900 and provide a permanent hospital building pro- gramme. The question was unani-
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