South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-07
CONGRESS INSISTS
ON RIGHT CONTROL
OYER YET BUREAU
Ten Dollars a Lesson for
Dancing Arouses Ire of
Washington Solons.
BY LOUIS LUDLOW.
tWashinRton correspondent Of
Tho New. Tlmr-L

The NeNs-Tlme-J
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Dec g.
Members Of congress who control
appropriations intend 10 insist that
a tight rein shall be put on the
United states veterans bureau. They
are convinced ~ "a rcCklessncss tn
connection with the expenditure of
huge sums made available for the
relief OF disabled veterans of the
world war Nothing but firm CON
gressiOnai check wiz prevent a
scandal. they say.
The announcement came from
Chairman Madden Of the house APP
propriations committee who said
that much money has been spent
fCOlishly and that the cost or admin
istration is isprOpOrtiOuately large.
Befc authorizing any more large
sums. leaders viii demand eXplana-
ton why SO "a lesson is spent for in
dustriai instruction in dancing and
singing They doubt that this In
struction IS a proper part Of the VOC
catiOnal training TO rchabilitate dis
abled soldiers. This instruction is
only less defensibIe, according 20 Mr..
Madden. than teaching automobile
driving at a cost Of 1915 an hour.
Figures secured by the appropria-
tioDs committee reveal that il mas
cost for administration S10.6s for
every 500 paid 20 "a veteran in train
ing.
High Price Experts.
If 10 costs more than $40 TO max
where the operation OF making the
allowance is very simple, there must
be something wrong said Chair
man Madden.
According TO those who have been
investigating one source Of the grea
expense IS the number OF bureau ex-
perts. such as expert psychiatrists,
expert dentists, expert oCulsts. and
other. who have been engaged with
no note taken Of cost Mr.. Madden
told OF a crippled veteran who visit
ed the bureau 20 learn how 20 adj
Just his eyes and teeth by experts
Another source OF extravaganza IS
thought 20 be the manner IN which
regional Offices and sub-ofdces are
maintained. Each Of the Il regional
Offices employs from 500 20 1000
persons and the average rental of
headquarters Is Sl50,O00 a year. one
pays out $4,000. Sub-odices 10
the number or 140 are being fur
Eished at the average cost of Sl2,-
600. According 20 mr.. Madden. who
IS inclined 20 think extravaganza Is
running riot. one-ten-h Of th-s SUN
should be sufficient
Nearly 100000 Get Aid.
The most recent figures from the
bureau show that $4,000 men are in
training and that ali but 9 900 Of
these are receiving compensation
The average monthly cost per man
is $126. OF the 1857. 900, 900 thus
far expended S121, 900. 600 was paid
Co the men I'm the form OF allow
ances and $50. 900 COO was charged
20 overhead" MT Madden con-
demned this as outrageous.
In all. 44O, 900 men have applied
for training and applications are be-
ing received IN numbers every day
Formerly all applications were APP
proved. Now. 60 to 20 percent are
being rejected. The number accept
cd totals 225. 1000 and $4,000 men
have at one time or another been
IN some sort OF training, but only
1000 men have been rehabilitated.
Chairman Madden said today that
congress has been generous and will
continue % be generous but tina,
money appropriated for relief must
not be wasted.
The soldier fund IS sacred AMI
must De preserved for the purpose
Tor which 80 was Intended"
Additional hospitals and hospital
beds VIII not be needed, according
20 members Of the appropriations
conn -ttee. Nearly 5000 beds now
controlled by the government arc
not occupied.