The Washington herald., 1921-08-05
SENATOR'S RECEIVE
MADHOUSE PICTURE
OF SOLDIERS Home
Tennessee Hospital Given
Rap in Testimony Of
Col. Forbes.
TELLS OF CASES
Evidence of Private Detective
Who Made the Investi-
cation.
TELLS OF CASES

Snagged by an unexpected dis
play of Congressional indifference,
the Sweet bill encountered still
further delay yesterday while the
Senate committee on soldiers RELIEF
listened to disclosures of the most
revolving nature yet revealed In
connection with the governments
neglect of disabled veterans. The
relief bill, although ready to become
law, it was discovered. is still lying
on the Vice Presidents table await
ing signature with no one in WASH
ington authorized to sign it. Vice
President Coolidge is in New Eng
land, and Senator Cummins, the
president pro tenn. is i'll at Atlantic
City.
Condition of Hospital.
Imminent need for enactment OF
the bill was emphasized by further
revelations of serious conditions at
the johnson City, Tenn, hospital for
tubercular former service men, Last
week Col. Charles R. Forbes, di-
rector of the War Risk Bureau,
called this institution "a madlDuse."
Today, Senator Walsh, of Massa-
chuSetts, characterized il as a hell
hole" and called upon the Attorney
General to begin prosecution of the
officers in charge for malfeasance
in office.
Testimony adding shocking de-
tails of conditions at johnson City
was given by NJ. p. McInerney, a
secret service agent in the employ
of the War Risk Bureau, who op-
tanned admission to'the hospital and
former service man.
Cooke, on Grounds.
On the night of his arrival. Nc
Inerney said. he bought a bottle of
moonshine and j dose of morphine
on the hospital grounds from a PED
dIer, who boldly solicited him. On
the next night he visited an adjoin-
ing dope house" and bought "a
block of snow" for 81. For the con-
venience of patients unable to walk
as far as the dope house" cocaine
dispensers with needle in hano
patrolIed the hospital grounds to
veterans at so much per shot, he
testified
An extensive red light district is
located close to the hospital and in
addition prostitutes loiter about the
grounds, he said. II the guards
drive them of they merely move
across the street. Professional gam
blers watch the arrival of war risk
Oh rnrffh - faF
eyes and aided by loaded dice and
marked cards they soon fleece the
former service men of their monthly
allowances.
SO Patients There.
About $50 patients are receiving
treatment at the hospit1l. 1t is
under the jurisdiction of the ma
tional Home for Disabled Volunteer
Soldiers. the organization whie.. has
charge of the homes for civil war
veterans
Col. Forbes urged the COMMITTEES
to, enact legislation promptly to
place such institutions as the John
son City Hospital under the
jurisdiction of the War Risk Bureau.
or. under the Veterans Bur eau Pro-
vided in the Sweet bill.
Unless immediate action is taken
to correct conditions a" johnson City
we will have as many casualties
there as We had in the world war
from an equal number Of men," Col.
Forbes told the committee
Walsh Makes Appeal.
In view of the probability CT de-
lay in getting such legislation
through Congress Senator Walsh
advocated prompt action by The De-
partment of Justice and declared
that the country should be informed
about the hell hole" to which it was
sending it's disabled veterans. An
appeal may be made also to tie Y.
Al. c. A. and the Knights of Column
bus to help remedy conditions.