Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1922-03-02
WHAT'S
Being Done
FOR VETERANS
Statement is Made as to What Con
gress aid the Administration
Have Done

| Have Done
| Washington, March 1.-The latest
bill in behalf of eX-service men which
has been given the approval of the
administration is one just introduced
by Representative Langley of Ken
lucky, providing for an appropriation
of $l6,000,000 for the construction of
additional hospitals for ex-service
men and further providing that all
construction work upon these hospi-
! tails shall be under the supervision Of
the Director of the Veterans Bureau.
/ This bill, carrying an appropriation
CT S16,000,000, is in addition to $780,
100000 already authorized fSr ex-
penditure in behalf of ex-service men
during the calendar year of 1922.
| There is quite an organized Demo-
cratic propaganda at work endeavor-
ing to create public belief that the
present administration has done no.
thing worthy of note in behalf of the
ex-service men. Charges to this eff
feet have been repeatedly made on the
the floor Of either the Senate or the
House of Representative by Demo
Gratis from states which have done
little or nothing for ex-service men.
The records show that insofar as
the Republican administration is con
cerned, nothing has been left undone
in behalf of the disabled ex-service
men. The Republican party since it
| obtained control of the Congress at
the fall elections of 1918, which Con-
gross convened in special session in
1919, has made appropriations in ex-
cess of $1,000, 100000 for use in be-
half Of ex-service men. Some idea
as to what is being done in their be-
half may be obtained from a state
ment made by Colonel Charles R.
Forbes, director of the Veterans Bu-
reau, in the course of an address be-
fore the National Conference of the
Disabled American Veterans of the
World War.
Il have no patience" declared Col.
Forbes, with the statement that is
being made that the government has
done nothing for the disabled ex-ser-
vice men and that it has been entirely
derelict in the performance of its du-
ty. For their information, allow me
to call your attention to the following
facts regarding what the government
| is doing:
I'D. Paying out one million dol
lars in cash every day including Sun
days, directly into the hands of the
ex-service men or their dependents.
"(2). Providing without cost, hos
pltal care and treatment to 10000
ex-service men. This care includes
board and lodging and represents an
annual expenditure of $60,000,OO0
"(3). Giving vocational training,
without cost, to over 100000 disabled
ex-service men, at an annual expend-
iture of over $4,000, 900.
90. Conducting an insurance bust
ness for over 100000 ex-service men
without any cost of administration
to them at premium rates below those
of private companies for like policies.
The insurance now in force is in the
sum of S3,50O,O00,00
so. Mailing out 100000 checks
every month, representing an expend-
iture Of $42,000,000 monthly.
go. Conducting over $4,000 med
zeal examinations every month
70. Giving outside treatment in
cases where disqualification is not re-
quired to 10000 ex-service men every
month.
"(8). Handling 1000 new claims
every day in addition to the 10000
already on file, and employing over
1000 ex-service men in carrying out
this work
10. In addition to the above the
Veterans Bureau has allowed 3O5.-
o0o compensation claims; has paid out
IN compensation benefits $500, 141 600:
has allowed $4,000 insurance claims
totaliing value of $4,000, 900.
"(10). The Veterans Bureau will
expend during the current calendar
year of 1922, $51O,Oo0,o00 in behalf
OF disabled ex-service mer,-more
than the entire expenditures of the
United States government in any
year of its history prior to 1897.
In view of these facts" said Col.
Forbes, 1T is difficult to reconcile the
statements that former service men
are being neglected. The United
States Government is doing more for
Us war veterans than any other gov
eminent in the world
Washington The Quartermaster
GENERALS office of the War Depart