Evening star., 1922-07-27
HOSPITAL CHARGES
DENIED BY SAWYER
General Reports 10000 Va.
cant Beds Now Available.
More in Preparation.
ANSWERS LEGION CLAIMS
Tells Sprague He Will Not Be
Forced, Cajoled or stampeded
Into Abandoning Policy"

Brig. Gen. Sawyer. the Presidents
physician, and head Of the federal
board for disqualification. yesterday
struck back at his critics. especially A
A. Sprasue, chairman Of the national
rehabilitation committee Of the Amer
lean Legion, by issuing a lengthy state
ment defending the governments pro-
gram for wounded soldiers.
Replying to charges that he had stood
In the way OF progressive policy re-
garding veterans. Gen. Sawyer declared
the government lis doing every consist
eran," and said he would not be forced.
cajoIed or stampeded" into abandoning
his policy.
10000 Beds Unoccupied.
Gen. Sawyer pointed out that there
are in the United States of America
ninety-nine government hospitals, with
a Capacity of 2s.412 beds. 10.l91 of
Which are at the present time unoccu-
pied
The White committee" he contin-
ued. has supplied and turned over to
the Veterans Bureau 1855 beds, and
will have provided in it's completed
program 6,169 beds. The Veterans
Bureau has under process of construc-
tion at the present time $500 addition
a DeQS wnlCn nave dITcduy UceH ~
Gated and work commenced.
The ninety-nine government hospi-
tails with a total bed capacity OF 2S,4l2
patients. including the 10,191 unoccu-
pied beds. are distributed throughout
the United States and are all now op-
Grated upon a standardized plan Of
service which guarantees the very best
of hospital treatment which can be
provided.
Attendant for Each Patient.
There is engaged in this hospital
service q personnel of about one at
lendant to each patient. In this per-
sonnet are men and women of the high
est type Of scientific. professional and
medical rehabilitation skill working
of those who by the vicissitudes of
war become incompetent.
when the disqualification plan OF
the government for the care OF the ex-
service men shall have been completed
al now contemplated-andw which is be-
will represent in all of the departments
a total expenditure Of approximately
$500, 600. 900"
Gen. Sawyer made public the text
Of a telegram. which he said he re-
ceived on last June II. from the
editor of a newspaper feature service,
which said that American Legion Of
ficials were making charges that you
are responsible for delay in hospital
iZation program for disabled SOL
diers." At the time, Gen. Sawyer said,
he was in a Chicago hotel in con-
ference with Mr.. Sprague. who. he
added, promptly replied by telegraph
to the editor of the feature service
that 1.-The charge that the general has
delayed the disqualification program is
false
Quotes spraEue's Praise.
Gen Sawyer made public a copy of
the telegram which he said Mr..
Sprague had sent, which WAS as fol-
lows:
Gen. Sawyer has shown me your
telegram. have been. as closely
in touch as any one individual with
THE hospital program for disabled eX-
service men and ] know and state
here that the charge that the general
has delayed the hospital program is
false. The latter part of the charge
Chat Gen. Sawyer was too old to hold
trivial and futile to answer. Gen.
Sawyer has given much valuable ad-
vice and assistance to this work and
am sure that misinformation and
ignorance of facts are responsible
for this ridiculous and unfortunate
statement
Coinrident with issuing the state
ment. DR.. Sawyer made public letters
from his associates on the federal board
and from Col. Forbes. director of the
Veterans Bureau. commencing him
for his work and expressing appreci-
alton for his services.
WOULD GUST GEN. SAWYER.