The Mena weekly star., 1921-04-07
TELLS DAWESTO
 FIND WEAK SPOT
President Orders Him to Discover Who Is to Blame for Neglect of Service Men-Request Will Be
 Followed by Quick Action.

Washington, April 5.-President Harding today asked his special com mission, headed by Charles G. Dawes, of Chicago, to make "diligent inquiry" of government department heads in an effort to find out where the gov- ernment agencies have been Hacking in authority, neglectful or failing" in caring for disabled service men. He also asked that investigation be made ef the abuses which have developed.
 The presidents request was in the form of statement which was rec commended at the first meeting of the commission by MT. Dawes, who called on the president today at the White House. The commission chairman an- nounced that the presidents wishes would be carried out to the letter and that the inquiry would not be directed into controversial or extended sub jects.
 T have asked you to meet and make an investigation into the administra- tion of the law for caring for the crippled and injured soldiers of the late world war;" the presidents state ment. There have been numerous complaints that the government IS neglecting the becoming care of these defenders, to whom it owes every con- sideration and there is further com- plaint that there is tardiness in deal ing with them and their claims which grew out of their service.
 Find the Blame.
 ''I should like you to make dilgent inquiry of department heads or with those associated with them, in an eff fort to find out just where the gov ernment agencies are in any way lack ing in authority, neglectful or failing to carry out what is the unquestioned intent of congress in it's enactment of laws and the making of appropria- tions. There need be no inquiry into the intent of the government, because think 1t is we'll understood that every agency desires to deal justly and gen erously with those of it's defenders who were impaired in the nations de- fense
 T think it would be we'll while you are making inquiry as to the failure to care for these service men that you also make inquiry into the abuses which have developed and look care fully into the regulations adopted so that you may know their probable eff feet in the future. It is well to realize that the American people want to prove the republics gratitude to these men.
 "The regulations adopted at this time are likely to be in effect for a full half century to come. In order to deal justly with these men and carry out permanent policy it is exceeding ly important to start on firm foun- dation.
 q have asked Brigadier General Sawyer to meet with your committee and make available to you such in- formation as you may desire which he has gathered as the representative of the executive in Investigating the re- lations of the several departments of government dealing with your com mittee and make available to you such information as you may desire which he has gathered as the representative of the executive in Investigating the relations of the several departments of government dealing with this problem. l do not imagine your com mittee will care to enter into a widely extended taking of testimony, but that you will be able to gather from the partment heads and officials responsi- ble for the service such information as you may require to pass judgment on the program adopted and make recom- mendations as to our future course"