South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-06-16
AMERICAN SOLDIERS
SUFFER BECAUSE OF
CAPITOL POLITICS
Red Tape at Washington Is
Blamed as Little Result
Follows New Bills.
BY HARRY u. HUNT
tSperfsI 70 The s-Times.1
sonrrfvhf fqe9 MA Service. Inc


WASHINGTON. June 15.-(cy y.
r 4. News Service. Petty politics
is deprfxinE tre nations az abied
soldiers and sailors OF the benefits
of hospital treatment for which con-
gross has appropriated more than
SIS. geo 600
The result is chat three and one
half years after the end ~ the war
no federal hospital facilities are
available for oue-third or the
wounded and disabled veterans stiii
requiring such care
on June ] emctl" 2s.555 veterans
were In hospitals for disabilities In
Cured in war service
BEt Of this num9cr $3.50 were
EARNED out" TO private and public
Institutions. &C - much a head.
because no beds were available for
them i'm government hospitals. Many
IL these are virtually imprisoned
with paupcrs ana the Criminally i'm
sane and receive no special treat
mont
Back OF this situation lies q story
~ petty politics. departmental ieal-
ff.If'r lNll.tIft pete Il'.H Hlf# ratflllA III
ness in striking contrast TO the
promises mad by the government
during the war.
Farming ont System
The system OF farming out veteran
patients 10 contract hospitals WAS
rerognized early in 1919 as unjust to-
Tire men and out or keeping with
IHtional obligations
Surgeon General Rupert Blue %
fEc U S Public Health Service rec
omucnded that immediate steps be
taken to provide government facili-
ties for disabled men. Tn two years
he said. 3O,660 beds would be need
cd RE urged appropriations OF
SIS. 900 600 20 provide them.
Congress. however. took no imme-
liate action; the war was over, for
got it,
In 1920 the director Of the war
risk bureau announced nc was in
urgent need OF 1928 additional
beds.
In January. 1921 the American
Legion urged appropriations for e.
900 more beds than the government
cases requiring hospital attention
was on the constant upgrade. Gue
Co.. tuberculosis and insanity devel-
OPS from war causes
Congress Votes Money
Forced finally TO action. congress
appropriated s1S.6OO. 900. to he
available March 4 1921. This
amount was 20 provide for 500
heds-slightly more than half the
number desired.
Ia l. now - months since that an
preparation became available But
instead of the $500 additional beds.
the total number that had been add
ell to the governments facilities on
june 4. 1922. was just $50.
The $1S.6o0.OOO building program /
running the gamut OF political and {
Bureaucratic interference. was ham
strung and delayed on every hand
Soon after passing Of the appro- +
Priatien Secy. Mellon appointed a /
committee 10 select sites. determine /
the nature OF each hospital and al ,
locate the funds The chairman
vas Or William Charles White. Of
Pittsburgh.
BIS the end Of June. 1927. the 70
gram was completion paper
Whole Program Is Blocked
Then set i'm the period Of objec-
Zion Interference and wire-puIling
that has resulted In the practical
thwarting of the wRoie program. Z
The $4,000 600 was viewed as A
christmas tree by sponsors for an /
sorts Of pet schemes
The public health service. army I
and navy medical men, Brig. Cen. /
Charles r Sawyer personal physi- /
r."n To- the president. senators. CON /
sressmcn and others with infu- I
erre.' came I'M with suggestions. de- +
m1nds. opportunities an OF which /.
''lecked progress.
The White report was made by ]
Tho end Of July, 1921 to Edward /
clifford assistant secretary Of treas /