New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-06
Soldier Relief
Bureau Merger
To Be Speeded
Dawes Committee 10 Law
Plan for Consolidation
of Government Agencies
Before Harding This Week
President Urges Haste
Expert Says 1000 Men Lack
Care Now, and Delay
Will Make Aid Useless

WASHINGTON, April 5.-Progress in
solving the governments problem Of
caring for ex-servicc men, whether sick
or disabled or physically fit but having
financial claims to be adjusted, was
made here to-day at the first meeting
of President Harding's special commits
sion, headed by Charles G. Dawes. of
Chicago, and appointed to inquire into
the situation. 1t was unanimously
agreed that the administrative machin-
cry now operating separately in the
several fields of soldiers relief should
be consolidated under one central au-
thority, probably new executive Of
hcer, who would be responsible direct
ly to the President.
When the commission met Mr..
Dawes read a statement frcm the Pres
ldent urging that it make "diligent in
curry of government department
heads III an effort to find out lust
where the government agencies have
been lacking in authority, ncglectful
or falling in caring for disabled serv-
ice men. He also asked that investi-
cation be made of "the abuses which
have DEVELOPER
Bureau Heads Favor Glass
Heads of all the bureaus having to
DO with treatment of the war veterans
were present, and in reply to questions
from Chairman Dawes and Colonel f,
w. Galbraith jr. national commander
of the American Legion, said thew ia
vored the general idea of CONSOLE
dated service bureau. This indorse-
ment Chairman Dawes said, promised
quick solution of the problem as it
related to the general administration
OF aid for men who are alleged to have
suffered under the system of divided
governmental responsibility.
Among those who expressed general
Endorsement of the plan for centraliza-
ton 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. Hallett.
acting director of the War Risk Blu
reau, and Samuel Lamkin, director of
the rehabilitation division of the Fed
eral Board for Vocational Education.
Speed Needed, Says Dawes
The essence of the whole thing
Mr.. Dawes said in discussing the work
OF the investigating commission. "is
speed Something remedial should be
done without delay, without waiting
Tor construction of permanent hospi-
tails. Soldiers now without treatment
VIII have passed the stage where hos
pltals will help them if we wait"
1T was stated authoritatively to-
night that the commission would COM
plete Its investigation and present it's
recommendations to- Pres dent Harding
by the week end. At the suggestion
of its chairman the committee met to-
night in executive session to consid der
the testimony heard during the day.
DR.. Thomas w. Salmon. Of the
Rockefeller Institute, told the commits
sion that one-half of the government s
beds were unsuitable for tuberculosis
cases. 1--WE know there are 1000 such
patients, he said, land 5000 mental
sufferers who are to-day without treat
ment by the government because they
refuse to go into charity and state in
stitutions.'
The question of hospital facilities
was thrashed out at length and re-
suited in request from Thomas W.
Miller, Alien Property Custodian and
former colonel in the army that
Chairman Dawes poll the commission
to ascertain whether it favored asking
Congress to increase its last appro-
priation of s1S,6O0,00O and provide q
permanent hospital building program
The question was unanimously in