The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1922-06-16
Expenditures of Depart
ment Now Around Million
a Day, Yet Delay and
Confusion Is Charged
ARMY MEN HANDLE
IMPORTANT CASES
Red Tape and Shortcuts Are
Practiced to Prejudice of
Disabled, 1t Is Claimed.
BY Harry Il. Hunt
Especial TO The Ardmoreite)

hauling of the United States Veterans
Bureau, affecting perhaps oven the
position Of director. now held by Charles
K Forbes, is likely within the next
TWO months as the elimination OF dis
satisfaction among ex.service men.
For months the situation within the
bureau has been the subject OF serious
concern to officers and men of ex-
service ORGANIZATIONS including the Am
erican Legion, the Veterans of Foreign
Wars and the Disabled American Vet.
Grams of the World War Efforts by
these organizations to obtain the full
est measure of justice for suffering
ex'service men have made little head
way.
Instead of improving, the situation is
declared to be growing worse.
A certain amount of delay and con.
fusion was expected 10 follow the de.
Capitalization of bureau work. following
The establishment OF IA regional bu.
reaus
Both the organization and admins.
tration OF these bureaus. however, are
now being subjected to criticism by
service organizations
The charge rs made that in many dis
.tricss, instead OF providing u shortcut
ana quick action. they only add to the
red tape and delay
The sub.offices, under the district of
fices, however. whore more Intimate
contact is maintained with the men.
are declared to have been distinct
benefit
The major part OF the attack on the
bureau will be directed against its med
zeal organization and delays in providing
better and more adequate hospitaliza-
rion. particularly for tubercuar and
mental cases
Army Men Make Decisions.
The first part OF this count Will be
based on the charge that the medical
direction OF The bureau is being Prus.
sianized
Among service men familiar with
conditions in the bureau, Il is regarded
as $ ..ficant that two civilian ply
s,cians Q. high ability, both of whom
saw Service with the American army
and who are on the staff OF the chief
Of the medical division, have compara-
lively little OF the work assigned 10
them.
Two regular army medical men, OF
Identical rank in the bureau Crganiza.
ton. supplant them in handling vir-
tually all important medical decisions
particularly as TO percentage OF dis
biiity which determines amount of
compensation.
Because OF the steady increase in tu.
bercular and mental disabilities arising
from war service. IL looks ~ II the
Veterans Bureau viii be called upon to
meet claims amounting TO more than
$500 900 900 in the present fiscal year
Presen; expenditures are well above
$1,000 900 u day.
Reduce Expenses.
Arbitrary medical findings, IT Is de
clared. more than any other one thing,
can be counted on to hold down the
amount needed 20 meet payments,
Every case OF mo disability" or mo
disability traceable to service means
money saved for the administration,
even though IL may mean an injus'
tice to an ex-service man.
Every disability rated as "10 PR
cent" instead Of 40 per cent or 40
per cent" instead of temporary total
or permanent total means dollars
saved TO the government treasury.
There Is no dodgipg the fact that
many gold brickers'f seek oompenso.
lion. There are bound to be unscru
pulous persons Ina an army Of 100000
men,
The law covering disability allowances
specifically provides that case OF tu.
bercuoss developing within two years
after discharge shall be considered rs
Incurred In service and 30 allowed,
Yet within month such cases have
been dfaallowed by the regular army
medical men OF the bureau and only
finally passed when American Legion
officials demanded that the law be fol.
IOwsd ,,,...
Director rorbes 10 declared to be a
victim Of circumstances and surround
inss,
His greatest fault, II is said even by
the bureaus ssverest critics. Is that he
has permitted himself to be swept along
vn q tide OF admin ration and army
policy. rather than emptns to stem
X.
CONSTITUTION O ISH FREE