Evening star., 1921-04-08

Seven specific recommendations. chief
among them the creation of the vet
Grams service administration to take
entire charge Of government relief work
among ex-soldiers and to be headed Dv
director general, responsible directly
to the President, were contained in the
report submitted yesterday to President
Harding by his special commission IN
vestigating the case of veterans
Charles G, Dawes of Chicago, chair
man of the commission. told the Presl-
dent as he handed him the report that
he believed the recommendations were
sound and that they would prove sat
isfactory solution of the troubles exist
ing in the present administration OF
soldier relief work. Early action by
President Harding on the report is eX-
pected.
Recommendation No. l provides for
the new agency and gives it jurisdiction
over the bureau of war risk insurance
the rehablitation division of the fed
eral board for vocational education and
such part Of the public health service
as may be necessary to care proper!
for disabled veterans. 1t also asks that
a director general assume charge OF tne
new agency with full authority to obtain
necessary facilities when those ALREADY
available prove inadequate This pro-
vision would permit the lease or pur-
chase Of hospital buildings whenever the
demand exceeded the supply. =.
Urges Care in LeEislatins.
Care is suggested in the framing OF
new legislation creating the administra
ton in order to avoid present inconslSt
encies of law affecting the three exist
ing bureaus Particular request is made
that no statutory limitations be placed
on the director general as to the num-
Der and salaries of his employees.
Recommendation No. says that, pend
ing the enactment of new laws. Secre-
tary Mellon of the Treasury shall issue
orders to the heads of the public health
and war risk bureaus authorizing the
latter bureau to take charge of the pub
lie health activities and personnel en-
gagged in providing medical care for the
veterans. The effect would be to con-
solidate these bureaus under one head
by executive order without waiting for
Congress to act or risk delay from that
cause.
The next recommendation provides
for an immediate extension and ut!liza-
ton of all government hospital facili
ties together with such mobilization OF
civilian medical services as may prove
practical.
An immediate and continuous hospital
building program is asked in the fifth
recommendation. which suggests that
Secretary Mellon's committee, recently
appointed to report on sites for new
hospitals be directed to report concern
ing the type and locations OF the re-
quired buildings. 1t adds that appro-
priations should be made available by
the Congress which convenes next Mon
day.
The sixth recommendation calls for
exertion Of humaniZing influences tc
impress the sick and wounded with the
fact that the nation is entirely con-
cerned in their welfare and rehabilita-
tion.
The last asks immediate use of the
SIS. SOC. 900 appropriated by the last Con-
gress for new hospitals.
cites "DeplOrable Failure
"It cannot be too strongly empha
sized" the report says in conclusion
that the present deplorable failure
on the part of the government t
properly care for the disabled vet
Grams is due in large part to an i'm
perfect organization of government
effort There is no one in control O.
the whole situation. Independent
agencies by mutual agreement nov
endeavor to coordinate their action
but in such efforts the joint action il
too often modified by minor consid
erations, and there is always lackin,
that complete cooperation which l.
authority. No emergency of war it
self was greater than is the emer
| gency which confronts the nation il
| it's duty to care for those disable
| in it's service and now neglected.
| THE summoning of this commissio
| by you is in earnest to the countr
: that you are convinced of the vita