Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-04-05
URGES FULL INQUIRY
FOR EX-SERV|CE MEN
President Directs Thorough In
vestigation of Neglect or
Failure to Provide for
Disabled Soldiers.
" Asaoclated rress 10 Every Evening.

| BY Associated Fress 10 Every Evening.
Washington. April President
| Harding today asked his special com
! mission. headed by Charles g. Dawes.
! Of Chicago, to make diliRent inquiry
/ Of government department heads in
/ an effort to find ont Just where the
| government agencies have been lack
i ing in authority. neElectful, or falling
/ in caring for disabled service men. He
also asked that investigation be made
! Of the abuses which have developed
The request was In statement read
at the first meeting Of the commission
| by Mr. Dawes who called on the
! President today ~ the white House
The commission chairman announced
that the President wishes would he
carried out 10 tho letter and that in
quiry would not he directed into con
troversial or extended subjects.
Il have asked YOU 10 meet and make
an investigation of the administration
Of tho law in caring for the crippled
and impairod soldiers Of the late world
war" said the Presidents statement.
/ There have been numerous complaints
that the government is neglecting the
becoming care Of these defenders 10
whom IL owes every consideration. and
there is further complaint that there
Is tardIness in dealing with them and
| their claims which grew out Of their
service
II should like You 70 make diligent
INQUIRY of department heads OF those
associated with them. in an effort to
and ont lust where the government
agencies were IN any way lacking in
authority. neglectful or failing 70 carry
out what is the uuquestioned intent Of
Congress in its enactment OF laws and
the making OF appropriations There
need be no inquiry into the intent OF
the government because I think, IL IS
well understood that every agency de-
sires 10 deal justly and generously with
those of its defenders who We're im
Iaired in the nations defense.
II think il would be we'll while you
are making inquiry as 10 the failure 70
care for these service men, that YOU
also make inquiry into the abuses
which have developed and look carefully
INTO the regulations adopted so that
you may know their probable effect N
rbe future. II is well 10 realize that the
American people want 10 prove the
republics gratitude TO these men.
The regulations and policies adopted
a, this time are likely To be IN effect
for fun half century to come. IN
order 10 deal justly with these men
and carry out a permanent policy II -
exceedingly important To start on a hrln
foundation.
= have asked Brigadier General
SAWYER 10 meet with your committee
and make available TO YOU such infor-
nation as you may desire which he
has gathered as the representative of
the executive in investigating the re
latIous Of the several departments OF
/ the government dealing with this prob
lem. | don't imagine your committee Will
care to enter into widely extended
taking OF testimony, but that you Will
be able 10 gather from department
heads and officials responsible for the
service such information as you may
REQUIRE to pass Judgment on the pro
gram adopted and make recomenda-
6 tions as to our future course.
Mr.. Dawes told the commission that
il was known that "a depiorable situa-
tion exists and that the President and
Congress were anxious 10 remedy II.
The first decision of the commission
was an informal one approving the plac
/ ing Of the three agencies dealing witt
f disabled service men under one responsi
S bic head.
Or. William e White OF Pittsburg
chairman Of the committee appointed
i nv Secretary Mellon to consult with tn,
n Dawes commission on location an'
Z building Of hospitals said his commit
tee had recommended 10 Secretary Mel
i Ion that legislative steps he taken L
centralize the Bureau Of War Risk In
e surauce the whole responsibility Of tn
}. government to ex-scrvice men.
The committee also recommends
n that experts study the question OF hos
: nital locations and that meantime
8 governors be called into conferenc
II with n view to utilizing Federal ant
s state soldiers homes and other hos
II pital facilities under jurisdiction Of tn
: states in caring for the disabled men.
After the first session. lasting abou
: two hours. Chairman Dawes said tn
n commission had obtained informatio'
Is definitely establishing existing evil
d in administration Of soldier relic
h work and that further inquiry into sue
phases Of the problem would b
abandoned,
'In contradistinction TO these con
erressional war investigating com
nittees." he said, lets have this com
mittee get together, get somewhere an
y get through.
lie A motion to that effect was made an
k, unanimously adopted.
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