Evening star., 1921-05-22
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.
EGISLATION for the benefit Of
the former service men is COM
ing to tho fore this week.

6I1SLA11ON 1Or the OeneHC OF
the former service men is COM
ing to tho fore this week.
There are two distinct meas
ures, considered of major importance
by the administration. that will be
expedited:
which President Harding directed his
personal physician. Brig. Gen c. E.
Sawyer. to give particular attention.
2. The Sweet bill for consolidation
Of the three principal government
agencies concerned with the care Of
former service men.
In addition to this the so-called
soldiers bonus" bill and other legis-
lation urged by the American Legion
will be advanced.
The House committee on public
buildings and grounds has approved
the disqualification bill fathered by
Chairman Langley, who intends to
under unanimous consent early this
week He says that he has found no
opposition to it and believes that all
of the members will unite in rushing
it through.
Against Divided Jurisdiction.
This measure is in substance what
the Secretary of the Treasury. Brig
Gen. Sawyer, and the special hospital
ization committee, headed by William
Charles White, have urged. 1t omits.
however, the proposal that some of
the funds should be allotted to the
| War and Navy departments for the
| treatment Of patients in their hospitals.
There was considerable opposition to
that among members Of Congress. on
the grounds that it would constitute
divided jurisdiction over hopitaliza-
tion work. which the administration
has regarded as the man trouble all
| along.
The Langley bill provides that the
President shall be authorized to transfer
| to the jurisdiction Of the Treasury any
hospitals that the Army and Navy might
have to meet Just that situation, SO that
they might be operated under the same
authority as all other hospitals caring
1of former service men.
In addition to this, there is provision
in the Langley bill authorizing the al
lotment Of any part OF the hospitaiisa-
! ton funa to the board OF managers of
the National Soldiers Home, because
it Is ultimately the plan to put in these
soldiers home hospitals all the victims
Of tho world war who have been per-
manently disabled.
A fund of $1S.s50 is carried in the
Langley bill for disqualification. This is
in addition 10 the $4,000 appropriated
last year. This fund is also available
for construction OF new hospitals If those
in charge Of soldier relief work find it is
practicable. A program is being worked
out which WIN involve the appropriation
Of another 81. .ooo. 900 or 81. .ooo, 900 dur
ing this session Of Congress for new
hospitals.
SanitaIium in Kentucky.
Agreement was also reached by the
House committee on public buildings and
grounds to report favorably the amend
ment for the Dawson Springs Sanitar-
ium in Kentucky. An appropriation of
s., ,5o0. 900 was made in the last session
Of Congress. It is now found that
another $75o.o0o is necessary in order
| that the buildings may be Of fireproof
construction. otherwise some Of them
would have to be frame construction.
An additional amount win also b rec
ommended for tho Speedway Hospital IN
Chicago. Assistant Secretary Of the
Treasury Clifford who has immediate
supervision over tho Disqualification
work. u now in Chicago and win make
. report to the committee for Seczetary
Mellon. This appropriation Win prob
ably b~ about 100000.
The Sweet bill for coordination of
the soldier-service agencies, has alb
sorbed the principal features Of the
original measure as drawn by Rep
resentative John ]. Rogers of Massa-
chusetts. The House committee on
interstate and foreign commerce,
headed by Representative Samuel
Winslow Of Massachusetts,. which
handled the original war risk insur-
ance act, has been holding executive
sessions on the Sweet bill.
Forecast Favorable Report
It has been forecast by members of
the committee that it will be favor
ably reported the first Of this week.
This is one Of the major legislative
proposals of the administration,