The New York herald., 1922-03-20
PRESIDENT ACTS
TO HELP DISABLED
Confcrs With Federal Officials
and Also Those Represent
ing Legion.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID, C.. March 10.

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., March 10.
President Harding set the wheels in
motion tonight to insure the fullest
possible care for the treatment Of dis
abled veterans of the world war. He
held two hour conference with the
chief officials charged with hospitaliza-
tion work and also officials OF the Amer
lean Legion in an effort to bring about
coordination in the conduct of the Ad-
ministration policy.
The President is preparing to urge the
immediate passage OF the Langley bill
approprlating s17.0oo.0o0 for new hos
pitals. The measure cuts red tape. such
as has interfered with the building of
hospitals authorized by the l;/t Con-
gress, when s1S,000,o00 was appro-
priated
1t now is to be matter of getting
the hospitals. at all costs, so that the
disabled soldiers may be provided for to
the best Of the Governments ability.
Participants IN Conference.
Those who participated In the confer
ence were Brig.-Gen. Charles r. Sawyer.
tie Presidents physician and chairman
Of the Federal Board on Hospitaliza-
tion Budget Director Dawes, Col.
Forbes, Director OF the Veterans Bu-
reau John Barton Payne of the Amer
ican Red Cross. Major-Gen. Harbord
Assistant Chief Of staff of the Army ;
Gen. Able Davis and Col. A. A. Sprague
Of Chicago and Col. George w. Wickers-
ham, Jr., of New York. these last three
being members of the hospital commit
tee of the American Legion.
President Harding expanded the con-
ference to include the Government Of
ficals after the request had been re-
ceiyed to sec the members OF the Amori-
can Legion. Word had come to him
that there was some dissatisfaction with
the disqualification work of the Govern
ment, due, as was explained. TO the vast
amount OF red tape that seemed to be
required. Hospitals were not being built
as rapidly as had been expected and
veterans were being cared for, ii was
said. I'm hospitals that were not suitable.
In order to remove any trouble that
could be located President Harding
wanted to get those concerned with the
work together I'm order that they might
be able to work out a program that
would be satisfactory 10 all of them
They passed more than two hours to-
gether tonight. and as result there
Will nc. III the future, the cicareSt nll-
derstanding between those charged with
capitalization.
Number of Hospital Cases.
At the present time the number OF
hospital cases, those of veterans OF the
world war, is about 10000. That is the
daily hospital roll About $1,000 OF
these cases are IN hospitals OF the United
States Public Health Service. while
others are in contract hospitals-in some
instances where special treatment is pro.
vided. rs
II was decided nj the conference that
so far AS may be done the hospitals
now under the Public Health Service arc
TO be transferred TO the Veterans Bu.
reau. This will be matter OF simple:
administration and superior control. ii
the judgment OF officials At present
the funds for the hospital work are ap.
propriated TO the Veterans Bureau. bui
turned over TO the Public Health Ser.
vice.
The Federal disqualification Board
headed by Gen. sawyer. is to continue
with the fullest cooperation Of the hos.
Apital committee of the American lie.
gion.