The New York herald., 1922-08-10
BILLION IN 3 YEARS
FOR SOLDIER RELIEF
Veterans Bureau EApends
481,000,O0O First Twelve
Months, Report Shows.
TO INCREASE ANNUALLY
Authorities Say $1,000, ,O00,-
900 Yearly Soon Required to
Care for Disabled.

Special Dispatoh to THE New yosK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c., Aug. 0.
The United States Veterans Bureau
to-day, on the first anniversary of its
establishment for the relief of disabled
veterans OF the world we-. announced
that during the fiscal year which ended
June 80, 1922, it expended approximately
| S4S1 900, 900 for various relief projects.
The estimate of disbursements for the
current fiscal year Is $513, $4,000. That
.s total Of nearly $1,000. 100000 OF
actual and contemplated expenditures in
two years for the care Of the war
victims.
On August 9, 1921. Congress, acting
on the recommendation of President
Harding, merged the War Risk Insur-
ance Bureau, certain divisions of the
United States Public Health Service and
units Of the Federal Board for Voca-
tonal Education into one central bureau
the United States Veterans Bureau
Col. Charles r. Forbes of Seattle, Wash,
was appointed director.
The first effort of the bureau was to
establish close contact with benefciaries.
Pressure was particularly exerted toward
this transfer Of veteran patients from
contract to Government owned hospitals.
tent because OF limitations incident to
the construction Of new hospitals and
the purchase Of those already in opera
tton.
Demand to Increase.
The demand on the veterans bureau
from war victims will necessarily in
crease each year and medical authorities
expect that the peak will not be reached
for some years. These authorities esti-
mate that nearly $1,000. 100000 win be
soon, required annually FOR the, proper
care Of men incapacitated while serving
under the flag.
Senators point to this fact as one Of
the most insistent reasons-why 81, 900, :
900. 900 bonus ~bill for able bodied ex-
service men should not be passed. They
affirm that every cent available in these
days Of heavy tax burdens should and
must go toward the relief OF the dis
abled.
Director Forbes Of the bureau will call
on President Harding In the near future
to urge adoption Of a new policy for the
trea tment Of tubercular and mental vet
| eran patients, The director said he was
convinced that he thought this class of
patients need some other kind OF insti-
tuition rather than a hospital Mr..
President advisability Of turning some
Of the present hospitals into training
centers especially adapated to treatment
of tubercular and mental sufferers.
he program of the veterans bureau
for the present year cOntemplates the
erection of twelve large hospitals for dis
| abled veterans. Work on some of these
projects is actually under way and Col.
Forbes stated to-day that the hospital
| program will be well under way before
! Fall. and nothing can interrupt the work
! from advancing steadily until the insti-
tutions are completed The location and
size of these hospitals are as follows:
Tupper Lake. N. r., a tubercular hos
pital with 500 beds. Project Is being
gene over by an Engineer Corps
Chelsea, N. ". tubercular hospital
with 500 beds. Everything will be ready
for beginning Of operation within thirty
days.
chllicothe. o.. a neuro-psychiatric
hospital with 500 beds. Survey will have
| Teen completed by September and con-
struction started.
| Knoxville. Ia. neuro-psychiatrc hos
! pital. construction Of which will be
started Immediately.
| Gulfport, Miss, a neuro-rsychiatric
hospital; construction under way
| Camp Lewis. WASH. neuro- -psychi-
atric hospital; construction will start
about October I.
Livermore. Cal, general hospital
construction win start about October /.
Selection Of sites We're made last week
st Fargo. ~ D.; St. Cloud, MINI; Min
neapolis. MINI, and Camp Custer. Mich.
At northampton. Mass, = neuro-psy-
ohiatric hospital. construction has been
contracted for and building will be
arted Immediately