Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-06-29
Hearing On
Soldier Aid
Next w eek
Senator Smoot Says Action
On Sweet Bill Planned
At An Early
Date.
In Hands Of Committee
By ARTHUR STARS HENNING.
Chicago Trlbune-Omaha Bee Leased wire.


Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, June 28.-Rcmedial
legislation proposed to end the
scandal of the governments neglect
full. inadequate and frequently inef-
fcient care of discharged American
soldiers entitled to medical treat
mcnt, vocational education and COM
pcnsation, is now in the hands of
Eve senator's.
The Sweet bill creating veterans
bureau to handle all relief for ex-
service men was passed by the house
ON June 10 and sent to the senate
Akhcre on June IS, it was referred to
the finance committee. Chairman
Penrose referred the bill to a sub
committee composed of the follow
ing FIVE senator's: Reed Smoot Of
/ Utah. chairman, republican; William
P. Dillingham; of Vermont, repub-
lican; William M. Calder of New
York, republican; James A. Reed Of
Missouri, democrat; David I. Walsh
Of Massachusetts,, democrat.
Although two weeks have elapsed
since the bill was referred to the
finance committee, no action has
been taken.
"There has been no delay, how
ever" said Senator Smoot, chairman
of the subcommittee. "As soon as
the bill was referred to the subcom-
mittee sent copy OF it to the
secretary of the treasury, who now
has supervision OF all soldier relief
activities, asking him to transmit his
views of the measure, including any
amendments which he might desire
to propose with view of improving
the legislation from practical stand
point.
Hearings Next Step. :.
IT have just received the depart
i,ent report OH the bill and have been
going over it, in connection with an
analysis Of the measure which ! have
srade myself. The next step will be
to hold hearings before the sub
committee, at which government Of
fcials, representatives of the Amer
ican Legion and other interested
parties will be asked to appear and
give their views of the house BILL"
"When will you hold these hear
ings| Senator Smoot was asked.
1T will be impossible to hold
them before next week" the senator
feHSAd, 81 think we can surely hold
theni next week"
The indications are that it will
take a month at least to get the bill
through the senate, unless the pro-
cesses OF consideration of the meas
ure outlined by Senator Snoot are
materially quickened. An aroused
public sentiment will go far toward
speeding action on the remedial leg
islation.
Two members of this sub-commit
tee-Senators Calder and Walsh OF
Massachusetts-ar already hard at
work on the problem of soldier re-
lief They are members of the Sc
lect committee appointed by the SEN
ate to investigate the abuses in the
relief agencies and recommend re-
forms. This committee was named
under the resolution of inquiry in
troduced by Senator Walsh and
adopted by the senate before the
Sweet bill reached that body. The
other members Of the select commit
tee ace Senators Sutherland of West
Virginia, chairman; Waller Of Mary,
land and Pomerene of Ohio.
Report Conservative.
Col Abel Davis sensational ex-
posurc OF the conditions existing in
the various governmental agencies
for relief of the veterans is pro-
nounced extremely conservative by