Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-11-03
JUST POLICY URGED
FORWARvETERANS
Special Senate Committee Re-
commands Reforms.
NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED
Says Board Should Broaden Interpre-
tatIons and Widen Scope of Activi-
tIes--WouId eliminate Politics.

ties---Would Eliminate Politics.
mendations designed to increase
the efficiency Of the veterans bureau
We're made in report published by
the special senate committee which
is investigating government activities
for the relief OF former service men.
The report was the second complied
by the committee, which has not yet
completed its task,
The bureau should broaden its in
depreciation and widen the scope OF
application of existing laws" the re-
port said, adding that additional legis-
laton would be sought to meet def
cieneies shown by It's hearings. Among
specific recommendation were.
Appropriation of $10,400,coo for
hospitals; transfer of all government
hospitals, including soldier homes not
needed by the army or navy, to the
bureau; creation of chaplain corps
Tor service In hospitals and training
centers; provision Of cemeteries at
soldier hospitals for interment of vet
eran dead; Standardization of train
ing, permitting the applicant to select
as far as possible his own vocation;
extension Of existing insurance to
$4,000 for each policyholder, II he
wants 1t, and extension of insurance
and compensation privileges to Ameri-
cans who served in allied forces.
Cancellation OF contracts with state
municipal and private hospitals which
were not In existence April /, 1917,
and with all similar Institutions
which, after inspection, are found un-
suitable, was recommended as one adj
ministrative reform, others under this
head including:
Issuance Of rules and regulations
for the maintenance Of order of dis
cipline frequent and thorough inspec-
ton Of hospitals and training centers;
elimination Of politics from appoint
ments; establishment Of additional vo-
cational centers at institutions where
mental and tubercuar patients are
under treatment.
To July 1, 1921, there had been $685.
600 applications for vocational train
ing at that time, the committee found,
adding that although we are APP
preaching the third anniversary Of the
armistice" only $3.50 have been re-
habllitated.
at is with deep regret" the com
mittee said, that we report this
melancholy fact"
Only 10000 men have accepted
training without pay out of total Of
96,912 ellgibles, and only $4,000 with
pay ont Of $4,000 elgibles, the report
said, the committee finding that "a
vast majority" Of those eligible "are
unable or unwilling to train because
of their inability to support them
selves without pay" About one-half
Of those training are in schools, col
leges or universities, "many receiving
better educational opportunities than
they otherwise could have obtained"
1t was declared
Many veterans, the committee
charged, delay rehabilitation because
usually the sum of the maintenance
pay and the wage considered exceeds
the wage they could earn upon reha-
bilitation."
Special reference was made to con-
ditions which the committee found at
the training centers, but the report
declared a repetition Of those Every
unfortunate experiences" would be
prevented by requiring the completion
of training centers before the men
are admitted for training.
Pointing out that only 1900 Of the
5000 employees in the bureau in July
last We're former service men, the
committee declared it was unable to
understand why the board thus dis
eliminates against former service
men," and suggested the Immediate
cutting down of the large force of
employees in Washington"
The committee said the government
had failed to obtain results common
surate with the large expenditure" in
work. and expressed be-
lief that knowledge of the govern
ment's failure prevented men from
seeking hospital treatment until too
late, and stream of dying patients
beyond the possibility of cure Is In
part the result"
Location Of hospitals upon Improper
sites was denounced, that at Fort Nc
Henry, Nd, being cited as an ex-
ample.