The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-04-12

federal board for vocatioaoi frSsS !.
inG. and other agencies OF govern
me1t IN caring for the ex-soldiers.
saiIofs ana Marines of the Woffd
war. This committee promptly re-
ported the CHIEF dilacuity to be the
imperfect organization of govern.
mental EFFORT, the same lAck OF CO.
Ordination which hindefs govern.
ment efficiency in many undertak-
ings, less noticed because the need
for prompt service II less appeal.
ing.
This committee has reconAmend.
ed. and l convey the recommenda.
tions to you with cordial approval.
that all government agencies look.
ing to the welfare Of the ex-service
men should Be placed under one
directing head, 20 that the welfare
Of these disabled sAvi0rs of our
civilization and freedom may have
the most efbcient direction. It NAV
be well to make such an Official the
director general Of service to var
veterans and place under hib difec.
ton all capitalization, vocational
training, war insurance, rehAbilita-
ton. ana all pensions.
The immediate extension AM
utilization Of the governments hoe.
pital facilities. in the army aud
navy will bring relief to the acute
conditions most complained of and
the hospital building program may
be worked out to meet the needs
likely to be urgent ut the time of
possible completion.
The whole program requires the
most thoughtful attention OF con-
gress, for we are embarking on the
performance Of a sacred obligation
which involves the expenditure Of
billions in the half century before
us. Congress must perfect the pol
icy OF generous gratitude and con-
scientious administration must
stamp out abuses in the very be-
ginning. We must strengthen rath-
er than weaken the moral fiber of
the beneficiaries and humanize all
efforts SO that rehabilitation shall
be attended by respiritualization.
New Department.
During the recent political can
vass the proposal was made that u
department Of public welfare be
created. 1t was Endorsed and COM
mended so strongly that I venture
to call 1t to your attention and to
suggest favorable legislative con-
sideration.
Governments obligation affirma-
lively to encourage development at
the highest and most efficient type
of citizenship is modernly accept
ed. almost universally. Govern
ment rests upon the body of citizen
ship; it cannot maintain itself on
level that keeps it out OF touch
and understanding with the conf
munity it serves. Enlightened gov
ernments recognize this and are
giving their recognition effect in
policies and programs. Certainly
no government Is more DESTROYS
than our own to reflect the human
attitude, the purpose Of making bet
ter citizens-ph physically. intellect
ually. spiritually. To this end an,
convinced that such a department
in the government would be of real
value 1t could be made to crystal
ize much of rather vague general
ization about social justice into SOL
i'd accomplishment. Events Of re-
cent years have profoundly i'm
pressed thinking people with the
need to recognize social forces AMI
evolutions. to equip our citizens for
dealing rightly with problems OF
life and social order.
Public Health.
In the realms of education. pub
lie health. sanitation, conditions of
workers in industry, child welfare,
proper amusement and recreation,
the elimination Of social vice and
many other subjects. the govern
ment has already undertaken a con-
siderable range Of activities. at
sumo the maternity bill. already
strongly approved. will be enacted
promptly, thus adding to our man
Hesitation of human interest. But
these undertakings have been scat
tered through many departments
and bureaus without coordination
and with much overlapping of func-
tions which fritters energies and
magnifes the cost. Many subjects
of the greatest importance are
handled by bureaus within govern
ment departments which logically
have no apparent relation to them.
Other subjects which might we'll
have been neglected are inadequately
provided for. To bring these vari-
Gus activities together in a single
department, where the whole field
could be survey and where their
Ninter-relationships could be prop
erly appraised, would make for in
creased effectiveness, economy and
intelligence of direction.
No Invasion.
In creating such a department it
should be made plain that there, is
no purpose to invade fields which
the states have occupied. In re-
spect to education for example, con-
troll and administration have rest
ed with the states, yet the federal
government has always aided them.
National appropriations in aid Of
educational purposes the last fiscal
year were no less than $65, 000, 900.
There need be no fear Of undue
Capitalization or of creating q fed
eral bureaucracy to dominate af-
fairs better to be left in state con-
troll. We must, of course, avoid,
overlapping the activities by the
several states and we must ever
resist the growing demand on the
federal treasury for the perform
ance Of service for which the state
is obligated to its citizenship. Some
what related to the foregoing hui
man problems is the race question.
Congress- ought to wine the stain of