Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-27
|Soldier Aid
Bill Again
Hits Snag
House Conferees Fightin,
Amendments Made by Sen.
ate in Attempt to Elimi.
nate Red Tape.
Doctor Changes Stand
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNlNG.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, July 26,-The Sweet
bill to establish veterans bureau
and end the scandal of government
neglect of disabled soldiers is on tie
rocks again.
The coniereeS appointed by the
house are fighting every important
change proposed by the senate to
eliminate red tape and liberalize the
treatment of disabled veterans.
A meeting last night, lasting until
the early morning hours, failed to
bring the confcrees into agreement.
Another effort will be made to get
together tomorrow, but indications
are that the senate confcrees must
either surrender their amendments
or isk still further delay in placing
t<he bill on the statute books.
The Smoot amendment making the
proposed veterans bureau an inde-
pendent institution, responsible di-
rectly to the president, met with
strong opposition from the house
conferees, although it was especially
,nrged by the Dawes commission and
by various soldiers organizations, on
the ground that it is necessary to
eliminate red tape. Another impor-
tant amendment which appears to in
vite the emphatic opposition of the
house confcrecs is the one sponsored
by Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,,
designed to afford more prompt
treatment to veterans suffering from
tuberculosis and mental disorders.
Say Charges Unnecessary.
Both of these amendments, as we'll
as numerous others of less impor-
tance, were adopted by the finance
committee after weeks of considera-
ton and were unanimously approved
by the senate. The house conferees.
however, hold I'll these changes to
be unnecessary and asserting their
pride OF authorship, are demanding
adoption of the bill without the
"dotting of an or the crossing of
t." As an example of their un-
yielding attitude, they forced the SEN
ate to yield to the striking out of
an amendment increasing the allow
ance for attendance for totally blind
ed soldiers, from $40 to $50 month,
although the amendment was placed
in the bill by the senate finance COM
fnittee at the urgent request of Rep
lres.tSat'"e Hamilton Fish of New
FiN,S
The session of the conference
committee developed heated ex-
changes between Senator Walsh of
Massachusetts, and DIR. Haven Emer-
son, assistant director of the war
risk insurance bureau. i'll charge of
the medical division. DIR. Emerson
supported the house conferees in
their opposition to the Walsh amend
meat, which he declared would make
liars of physicians
Transfers Burden of Proof.
The Walsh amendment seeks to
transfer from the di abled veteran to
the government, the burden of proof
on establishing the origin of dis
ability. 1t would have the govern
ment grant compensation to disabled
veterans suffering from tuberculosis
and mental diseases, on the pre-
sumption that their disability was
contracted in line of duty. 1t would
abolish the practice of Withholding
compensation until the disabled man
was able to furnish sufficient afhda-
Wits to prove that he contracted his
disability in the service.
Dr. Emerson was on the stand
before the senate committee on SOL
diers' relief. He admitted having fur
nishcd President Harding with the
information that there was a surplus
OF 5000 beds available for disabled
veterans. The committee manifested
considerable impatienee with this
statement, in view of the disclosures
previously made. DR., Emerson final
" agreed with DR.. c H. Lavender
of the public health service, who was
also before the committee, that there
.re not enough beds available for
certain classes of patients at parti-
cular times and in particular places.