Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-04-08
SOLDIER RELIEF
BODY SUBM| IS
HARDING. PLAN
Director General to
Head J Specific Rec
concentrations Made.
Dawes Tells President
Proposals Sound and
Will Prove Solution.

Washington, April 7.-Seven specific
recommendations, chief among them
the creation of the Veterans Service
administration to take entire charge of
government relief work among ex-
soldiers and to be headed by direc-
tor-general, responsible directly to the
president, were contained in the report
submitted Thursday to President Hard
ing by his special commission investi,
eating the care of veterans.
Charles G.. Dawes, of Chicago.
chairman of the commission. told the
president as he handed him the report
that he believed the recommendations
were sound and that they would prove
satisfactory solution of the troubles
existing in the present administration
of soldier relief work. Early action
by President Harding on the report
is expected.
Recommendation No. {.
Recommendation Number 1 provides
for the new agency and gives it juris-
diction over the bureau of war risk
insurance. the rehabilitation division
Of the federal board for vocational
education and such part of the public
health service as may be necessary
to care properly for disabled veterans
1t also asks that director general
assume charge of the new agency with
full authority to obtain necessary facili-
ties when those already available prove
inadequate. =,
Care is suggested in the framing of
new legislation creating the admins
tration in order to avoid present incon-
sistencies Of law affecting the three
existing bureaus.
Particular request is made that no
statutory limitations be placed on the
director general as to the number and
salaries of his employees.
Mellon Temporary Chief.
Number 3 says that pending the en-
actment Of new laws, Secretary Mellon,
Of the treasury, shall issue orders to
the heads of the public health and war
risk bureaus. authorizing the latter
bureau to take charge of the public
health activities and personnel engaged
in providing medical care for the vet
Grams.
The next recommendation provides
for an immediate extension and utiIiza-
ton of all government hospital facilities
together with such mobilization Of civ
ilian medical services as may prove
practical.
An immediate and continuous nos
pital building program is asked in the
fifth recommendation which suggested
that Secretary Melons committee re-
Gently appointed to report on sites for
new hospitals be directed to report con-
cerning the type and location of the re-
quired buildings. 1t adds that appronri-
ations should be made available BY the
congress which convenes next Monday.
The sixth calls for exertion Of hui
manizing influences to impress the sick
and wounded with the fact that the
nation is entirely concerned in their
welfare and rehabilitation.
Immediate Use of Funds.
The last asks immediate use of the
SIS, 100000 appropriated by the last
congress for new hospitals.
1T cannot be too strongly empha-
sized" the report says, 1.that the
present deplorable failure of the gc-.
ernment to properly care for the !. \
abled veterans is due in large part 70
the imperfect organization of govern
mental effort. There is no one in |
control of the whole situation. 1nde- |
pendent agencies, by mutual agreement !
now endeavOr to co-ordlnate their ac- |
ton, but in such efforts the joint ac-
ton is too often modified by minor |
and there is always |
lacking that complete cooperation
which is incident to powerful super |
authority. No emergency of
war itself was greater than is the
emergency which confronts the nation
in it's duty to care for those disabled |
in the service and now neglected.
"The summoning of this commission !
by you is earnest to the country |
that YOU are convinced of the vital ma
ture of this problem and that you arc
to secure a prompt and |
effective solution thereof" |
The report was submitted as the
unanimous agreement Of the commits
sion and Brigadier General Sawyer,
the presidents personal representa-
tive on the commission.