The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-07-14
SOLDIERS BUR|A[S
|. CALLED SHOCKING
] BY SENATOR MEYER
Two and Three Put In Same
Grave Without Markings,
Says Complaint.

NEW YORK. July l4--senato-
Schuyler M. Meyer yesterday charGed
that the United States Public Health
Service and the New York City De-
partment OF Health were Jointly re.
sponsible for the burial Of unclaimed
soldier dead under conditions which
he characterized as disgraoeful and
shocking.
Two ana three were sometimes put
In one grave by the undertaken who
had the contract for burying returned
soldiers who died from wounds In the
city hospitals and at the Fox Hills
hospitals on Staten Island, which Il
under Federal control.
Wants Federal Inquiry.
The principal responsibility, said
Senator Meyer. rested with the United
States Public Health Service. In a
letter to Cornelious w. Wickersham,
chairman of the Fox Hills Hospital In
vestigating committee, he proposed
that the Federal authorities make an
Investigation, saying that his commit.
tee had no power over Federal activi.
ties. but would investigate the acts of
the local health department in con-
nection with the subject.
lows:
Information was brought to, the
joint legislative COMMITTEES investi-
eating the affairs of the city of New
York concerning the issuance 0f burial
permits by the Department OF Health
for the burial of ex-service men who
die in the city hospitals and the Fox
Hills Hospital. Staten Island.
"A brief investigation established
the fact that while checking con-
dition exists. the blame IL primarily
on tho United States Public Health
Service. although the city's depart
ment of health seems to show f. cal
lous indifference TO the ultimate dis
position Of the bodies Of these sol
diers.
''The facts briefly are: An under
taker procured from the Un.ted
States Public Health Service q num-
Der of contracts for the burial of
soldiers who die In the city hos
pitfalls and the Fox Hills Hospital
and whose bodies are unclaimed.
Under his contract he Is required Tn
bury them in separate graves with
proper markers and attend to all
the customary details of decent
burial.
"The testimony shows that this
undertaken, instead of burying these
soldiers in separate graves, buried
them two and sometimes three IN
the same grave. and frequently
buried them without even eml,aln-
\ ing the bodies.
"An army nurse who went to q
local cemetery for the purpose of put
ting up a headstone on the grave Of
one OF the soldiers she had nursed
was told by the cemetery authorities
that she had better put three names
on the stone. as there were three men
| in the grave.
Apparently the city Department
of Health issues permits without any
check or follow-up system and the
United States Public Health Service
feels that their responsibility ends
when they made a contract with an
undertaken to bury the bodies.
Much as / would like to prevent
recurrence of this disgraceful con-
dition, as you can readily understand.
the Legislative Committee has no
| Jurisdiction over Federal activities.
"As the contract was with an
agency OF the Federal Government.
thought II best to turn over the
testimony and evidence to you for
such action as you may deem ad-
visable. That phase of this disgrace
full business which touches the ad-
ministration of the city Department