The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1921-04-05
WOUNDED SOLDIER
!. CARE INQUIRY IS
ASKED BY HARDING
President Wishes to Know if
Government Agents Have
Been Neglectful.
ANXIOUS FOR REMEDY.
Dawes Says 1t Is Known That
a "Deplorable Situation
Exists"

WASHINGTON, April 5.-Presldent
Harding to-day asked his special
commission, headed by Charles G.
Dawes OF Chicago, 10 make "diHgent
inquiry" OF Government department
heads in an effort to find out inst
. where the Government agencies have
oeen lacking in authority, neElectful
or falling in caring for disabled SER
vice mel He also asked that investj- =
cation be made of THE abuses which
have developed"
The Presidents request was in the
form of statement which was read
at the first meeting of the Commission
by Mr.. Dawes, who called on the
President to-day at the White House.
The Commission Chairman announced
that the Presidents wishes would be
carried out and that the inquiry would
not be directed into controversial or
extended subjects.
President Harding said he thought
Il was well understood that every
agency desired TO deal Justly and
generously with those OF its defenders
who were impaired in the Nations
defense. after telling of numerous
complaints that the Government had
neglected the care OF disabled sol
diera. Concluding. he said:
The regulations and policies
adopted At this time are likely to be in
eject for a full half century to come.
In order TO deal Justly with these men
and carry out a permanent policy IT
y exceedingly important to start on q
firm foundation.
Il have asked Brig. Gen. Sawyer
to meet with your committee and
make available to you such informa-
ton as you may desire which he has
gathered as the representative Of the
Executive in investigating the rela-
tons of the several departments OF
Government dealing with this prob
lem. I do not imagine your committee
vail care to enter into a widely ex-
tended taking of testimony, but that
you will be able to gather from de-
partment heads and officials respon-
sNble for the service such information
as you may require to pass judgment
on the programme adopted and make
recommendations as to our future
course"
Mr.. Dawes told the commission
that it was known that "a deplorable
situation exists" and that the Presi-
dent and Congress were anxious to
remedy it
The condition exists" he declared,
because OF lack Of coordination
among the agencies authorized by the
law to care for the soldiers Something
must be accomplished We will find
the remedy and stay IN continuous Ses-
sion until we do. The men on the
other side worked at night. This re-
hates to them. Let's cut out the din
ners and get down to definite work
right now
Mr. Dawes said the commission
hearings should be concluded by Sar-
= urJlay, and the commission then begin
its executive sessions to draft recon-
mendations for submission to the Pres
ident.
The first decision Of the commits
sion was an informal one, approving
the placing OF the three agencies deal
ing with disabled servicemen under
one responsible head This was urged
by Coll +. w. Galbraith jr., com
mander the American Legion and
a menn OF the commission, and by
Brig. ca Sawyer Col Galbraith said
that as result Of the work being
done uu the three agencies vete-
rams wen without medical care, finan
cial sup 'rt on vocational training
from tim to time
DR.. w lam c. White OF Pitts
burgh, @ Iirman OF the Committee
amounted nv Secretary Mellon 10
consult with the Commission on Ioca-
ton and Building OF Hospitals said
his committee had recommended 10
Secretary Mellon that legislative
steps he taken to centralize in the
Bureau of War Risk Insurance the
whole responsibility of the Govern
nent to ex-service mon.
The committee also recommended
that experts study hospital locations
and that meantime Governors OF
other State officials be called to devise
means for caring for the disabled.
DR.. White said Cen Pershing and
representatives. of all organizations
interested in the subject had con-
CURED IN the conclusions OF his re-
port.
Chairman Dawes said the commits
sion had obtained information def
nitely establishing existing evils in
administration of soldier relief work
and that further inquiry into such
phases of the problem would be aban-
doned. Let's have this committee
get somewhere and get through" he
said.