New-York tribune., 1922-01-04
Invalid Soldiers Join in
Protest to Harding Op-
posingS7OO, ,OOOSaving
AT Sufferers Expense
Decentralization Is
Seen in Proposal
Argument Made Present
Staff Now Il Familiar
With individual Cases

WASHINGTON Jan. 3. Strong pres
surc is BEING brought to bear upon
President IIa ding in various Official
quarters, 1T IS learned Tonight for
the issuance Of an executive order re-
moving tho POO Public Health Service
reserve officers TO civilian status.
The movement, backed principally by
Rrieadicr general Sawyer, the Prcsi-
dents medical adviser, and several
Senators. threatens. according to the
American Legion and other friends Of
the Public Health Service, to dcmoral-
izc the corps and disrupt the entire
capitalization program of the United
States Veterans Bureau.
The Public Health Service to-day
literally is in an uproar over the plan
which was communicated to its mem
bers only few days ago. Acceptance
by the President would give the medi-
cal officers directing the seventy hos
pitals scattered throughout the coun-
t.y the alternative Of continuing their
work as civil service employees
1t is indicated that a large majority
of lowered salaries and lack of perma-
ncncc.
The argument of the proponents S
economy. About Is per cent Of the
present cost OF operating the Public
Health Service would be saved BY the
change, it is estimated in report pre-
pared by Herbert u. brown, chief of
the Bureau of Efficiency. which is now
before the Treasury Department., Incl
dentallN. it is reported that the feature
of the report recommending the dis
organization OF the commissioned per
sonncl was the suggestion of Young
hookkcepcr.
Would Mean Saving OF 100000
The total saving which might be cf-
fected has been estimated at about
100000. Disruption Of the Health
Service and serious handicaps in the
way OF recovery OF more than 10000
wounded war veterans. arc the price OF
the reduced government outlay. accord
ing to Colonel c. Il. Forbes. director
of the United states Veterans bureau:
Surgeon General Hugh S. Cumming, of
the Public Health Service and the
American Legion. represented by John
Thomas Taylor, vice chairman of the
National Legislative Committee.
$50 far as | know, the whole matter
IS before the President" said Surgeon
General Cumming Tonight at is a
very serious state Of affairs Person
ally, think. it would be terrible to
disrupt and dcmoraize the corps and
would mean a serious dotrimont TO the
cX-service men in the hospitals'
Another high official declared soldier
rehabilitation "a poor place to which to
carry out the economy program "ln-
deed it is The one place. said he,
"wherc no thought should be taken Of
cost 50 long as the best for rehabilita-
ton is provided.
1t also was pointed out that about 81
per cent of the Public Health surgeons
are former army officers who saw ser
vice in France during the war. or
| ,076 now engaged in soldier relief
work. O5l are former service men and
$40 arc in service hospitals.
Highly Specialized
Many of these arc highly specialized
experts who have given up bigger sala-
ries in private practice to develop for
the government the best in tuberculo-
81 and other special treatments. A
part of the personnel is stationed at
remote and out -thcway places. Dis
satisfaction on this ground is overcome
only by having the mobile commits
stoned force, with the constant pros
pcct Of transfer to other posts.
The average pay for the health scrv-
ice surgeons, on a division based on all
salaries from that Of the surgeon gen
eral down TO the Junior assistant sur
gcons. including all allowances for
quarters. heat, etc. is $A,135. The pay
for the various grades CORES ponGs
with that of army officers. OF the
total of 1920 men only two draw sala-