Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-13

tiOhb u you WIN COl dlfhi approval,
that all government agencies looking
to the welfare of the ex-service men
should be placed under one directing
head, SO that the welfare of these
disabled saviors of our civilization
and freedom may have the most ef-
ficient direction 1t may be- well to
make ouch an official the director
general Of service of war veterans and
place under his direction all hospi-
talisation, vocational training, war
insurance. rehabilitation and all
pensionA
"The Immediate extension and
utilization of tho governments hospital
facilities In army and navy will bring
relief to the acute conditions most
complained of and tho hospital build
ing program may be worked out to
meet the needs likely to he urgent at
the time of possible completion.
'"rhe whole program requires the
most thoughtful attention OF congress
for We are cmbarking on the perform
ance of a sacred obligation which in
wolves the expenditure of billions in
ths half-century before us. Congress
must perfect tho policy of generous
gratitude. and conscientious admins
tration must stamp out abuses in the
very beginning. We must strengthen
the bereficiaries. and humanize all cf-
forts to that rehabilitation shall be at
tended by respiritualization.
Department of Public Welfare
During the recent political canvass
the proposal was made that depart
| ment of public welfare should be
created. 1t was indorsed and commend
cd so strongly that l venture to call 1t
to your attention and suggest favor
able legislative consideration.
Governments obligation affirma
lively to encourage development Of the
highest and most efficient type Of citi-
xenship is modernly accepted. almost
universally. Government rests upon
tho body of citizenship: It cannot main
| tain itself on q level that keeps 1t out
OF touch and understanding with the
community 1t serves. Enlightened gov
crnments everywhere recognize this
and are giving their Reorganization ef-
feet In policies and programs. Certain
| ly no government Ia more desirous than
our own to reflect the human attitude.
tho purpose OF making better citizens
physically. intellectually. spiritually.
To this end. am convinced that such q
department in the government would
be Of real value. It could be made to
crystalize much OF other value general
ization about social Justice into sound
accomplishment. Events of recent years
have profoundly Impressed thinking
social forces and evolutions. to equip
our citizens for dealing rightly with
problems of lifo and social order.
In tho realms OF education. pub
lie health. sanitation, conditions OF
workers in industry. child welfare
proper amusement and recreation. the
elimination of social vice and many
other subjects the government has
already undertaken considerable
range of activities.
'I assume the maternity bill. al
! ready strongly approved: will bo on
manifestation OF human interest But
| these undertakings have been scat
tered thru many departments and
bureaus without coordination and
with much over tapping of functions
which fritter energies and magnify
the cost.
CouFdtnattnw the Bsseans
but many subjects OF the greatest
importance are handled by bureaus
within government departments
which logically have no apparent re-
might well have the earnest consid-
Grafton of federal authority have
been neglected or inadcquatcly pro-
vided for. To bring these various
activities together in n single depart
mcnt. where tho whole field could be
,ionship could be properly appraised.
would make for Increased effective
ness. economy and intelligence OF d.
rection. In creating such depart
ment IL should be made plain that
there IL no purpose TO invade fields
which the states have occupied. In
respect of education. for example.
federal government has always aided
them. National appropriations In Aid
OF educational purposes tho last fiscal
year werc no lcsS than SOS 5000. 900.
There need bc no fear OF undue CEN
tralization or OF creating n federal
bureaucracy to dominate affairs bet
ter TO be left II state control We
must. Of course. avoid overlapping
the activities by the several states,
and We must over resist the growing
demand on tho federal treasury of
tho performance OF service for which
tho state Is obligated to its citizenship.
'somewhat related to the foregoing