The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-10-31
JUSTPOLICyuRGED
Special Senate Committee Re-
COmmendS Reforms.
NEW LEGISLATION NEEDED
Says Board Should Broaden Interpre-
tations and Widen Scope of Activi-
ties-WouId Eliminate Politics.

ties-Woud eliminate Politics.
Washington, Oct. Sweeping
recommendation designed to increase
the efficiency Of the veterans bureau
were made i'll a report published by
the special senate committee which
Is investigating government activities
for the relief Of former service men.
The report was the second compiled
by the committee, which has not yet
completed its task.
The bureau should "hrUptlru lis in
depreciation ana widen the scope of
applic;rion Of existing laws" the re-
mort said, adding that additional legiS-
latiOn would he sought to meet def
riencieS shown by its hearings. Among
specific recommendations We're.
Appropriation of S16,400.OUO for
hospitals: transfer Of all government
hospitals. including soldier homes not
needed 10y the army or navy, Ia the
bureau; creation of Il chaplain corps
for service i'll hospitals and training
centerS provision of cemeteries at
soldier hospitals for interment of vet
pran dead: standardization Of train
ing. permitting the applicant to select
as far as possible his own vocation:
extension of existing insurance to
10000 for each pOlicyholder, if he
want, If. aud extension Of Insurance
and compensation privileges to AmcT:-
cans who served in allied forces.
Cancellation Of contracts with state
municipal and private hospitals which
were not in existence April l, 1917.
and with all similar institutions
which. after inspection, are found TN
suitable. WAS recommended as orc ad-
miniSlrative reform. others under this
head incIudirg:
Issuance Of rules and regulations
for the maintenance of order of dis
cipline: frequent and thorough in>pec-
ton of hospitals and training ccnter&;
elimination of politics from appoint
mpntS: establishment of additional V0-
catiGnal centers at institutions where
mental and tubercular patients are
under treatment.
To July l. 1921. there had been 3SS.
900 applications for vocational train
ing al that time, the committee found,
adding that "although we are APP
preaching the third anniversary of the
armistice" only $3.50 have heen re
habilitated.
1T is with deep regret" the com
mittee said, that we report this
melancholy fact"
Only 10000 men have accepted
training without pay out of total Of
96.912 eHgibleS, and only $4,000 with
pay out of $4,000 eligibles. the report
said. the committee finding that "a
vast majority" of those eligible are
unable or unwilling to train because
of their inability to support them
selves without pay About one-half
Of those training are in schools. col
l~es or universities, "many receiving
better educational opportunities than
they otherwise could have obtained"
it was declared.
Many veterans, the committee
charged. delay rehabilitation because
usually the sum of the maintenance
pay and the wage considered exceeds
the wage they could earn upon reha-
bilitatiOn.'
Special reference was made to con-
ditions which the committee found at
the training centers, but the report
declared a repetition of those very
unfortunate experiences would be
prevented by requiring the completion
of training centers before the men
are admitted for training.
Pointing out that only 200 of the
5000 employees in the bureau in July
last were former service men, the
committee declared it was unable to
understand why the board thus dis
eliminates against former service
men," and suggested the immediate
cutting down of the large force of
| employees in Washington"
The committee said the government
had failed to obtain results common
surate with the large expenditures in
rehabilitation work, and expressed be-
| lief that knowledge of the govern
ments failure prevented men from
seeking hospital treatment until too
late. and a stream Of dying patients
beyond the possibility of cure is in
| part the result"
Location of hospitals upon improper
sites was denounced, that at Fort Nc
Henry. Md. being cited as an ex-
ample.