The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-01-21
NIsIICTID SOLDIERS.

NEGLECTED SOLDIERS
Thcro has been u very marked lack ot cfn.
cheney in taking care ~ wounded soldiers, sail
ors and marines along the lines contemplated
by congress- says the Washington Post with
out attempting 10 fix the responsibility for con-
diuons It may bc said mat hospital facilities
ana treatment are inadcquac. thcrc is delay in
paying tho men by the war risk bureau. and
tho board FOR vocational education has not
made the progress that was expected ot it. Tho
whole situation cpils for improve nont at once
Just whore ihe fault lies Is a matter OF opin-
ion. The American Legion takes the view that
It Ia due to n lack Of coordination between the
three bureaus which deal with the subject of
Observation-Disclosures public health service. tho
war risk insurance and the board for vocational
educational The legion tx pctitlonlng congress,
President Wilson and President -clcct Harding
FOR consolidation Of those three agencies under
single head 80 that there can be no divided
responsibility.
The proposition would bc quite simple II
each Of the three bureaus had no other ninc-
lion but the care OF tho wounded soldiers But
IN addition to providing hospital accommoda-
uons and treatment for the wounded former
scrYce men the public health service has other
important duties to perform, and aside from
disbursing disability pay TO these men the war
risk bureau is engaged in other work. \ COM
blnation OF the three bureaus under one head.
while 1t might obviate tho objection now raised
with respect to the wounded soldiers might re-
suit In other complications Of q serious nature
hut the petition OF the American Legion de-
mands and should- receive thoughtful attention
from cougrcsa and the executive for at least It
is n concrete suggestion for Improvement in
condition which obviously must be improved at
once. Some plan must bc worked out to secure
harmonious action between those who are
charged with the duty and responsibility Of taxi
ing care OF the men who made their sacrifices
for the countr" upon tho field OF battle. Con-
grcss has been liberal In It's appropriations:
that IL conceded, The men who have been as
signed to this work earnest that too Is ad-
mittcd. And yet the manned soldiers are not
getting the benefits to which they are entitled
and which 1t Is intended they should have.
1t was not anticipated that great government
hospitals would spring up overnight to take
care OF the wounded men, btit within the space
OF two years after the signing Of the armsticc
It was reasonably expected that comfortable
quarters would be provided for all whore they
could receive the kind OF treatment their cases
cali for. There are difficulties in Keeping track
OF 10000 to 80 900 disability cases. getting cor
rect addresses and sending out checks for dis.
ability pay In a legal manner, and yet by this
time 1t might he expected that a system would
be devised which would obviltc tho intermina-
bile delays In getting to the men the money due
them. As FOR vocational training, there has
been an oycrplus ot thcori2ug to date, but the
work Ia now being carried into the field and
good results being obtained.
There is not senator or representative who
IL not in complete harmony with tho national
sentiment in favor OF granting to the wounded
men the best OF comfort and professional at
tontion, together with the education TO Ut them
for sef-support under the handicaps they have
suffered In the war Therefore faulty admins
tration should not be permitted to interfere with
making this sentiment effective.