The New York herald., 1922-09-17

the Legion. after a spirited Legislative
fight, recently put through Congress
an additional appropriation OF ST.
100000
Veterans Bureau Has
Control of the Fund
What Is more important. the tena-
cious attempts OF the Treasury and Of
the Federal Board OF disqualification.
headed by Brig.-Gen. Charles r. Saw
yer, to control this fund have been
defeated. 1t is written In the Langley
bill, which carries the appropriation,
that the location and construction OF
the additional hospitals shall rest
solely with the Veterans Bureau.
THE bureau had no part in the fall
ure OF the s18.6o0,000 program. Di-
rector Forbes stormed and protested,
but his hands were tied Things went
to pieces under his eyes.
Some of the men and the motives,
the institutions and the influences
which stand between the wounded
soldier and his proper care and physi-
cal recovery may best be revealed by
an examination, first, Of the factors
which impeded and bankrupted the eff
forts Of those who sought to push the
1S.6oo,Oo0 building program to sue
cess, and second, of the factors which
fought to dominate the s17,o0o.ooo
relief program, and, though once re-
buffed, still threaten complications.
"An auspicious beginning marked
the Inauguration Of the major pro-
gram. One OF the first official acts
Of Secretary Mellon was the appoint
ment of committee OF eminent ex-
perts in hospital planning and admi-
ninstration headed by DR.. William
Charles White of Pittsburgh.
This body was charged with alloca-
ton Of funds for specific projects, the
selection OF sites and the determina-
tion of the nature Of each hospital
The character of its personnel was a
Guaranty against political manipula-
ton. 1t was to act solely in the best
interests OF the veteran, as determined
by scientific Judgment, wholly unham-
pered by any outside influence.
"The White committee got together
at once and by the end of March. 1921.
had completed its preliminary survey
On April the Dawes -Galbraith COM
mittee, appointed by the President to
| make recommendations on all phases
of the veteran relief tuation, ex-
pressed It's unqualified approval of the
committees work and urged full speed
ahead on a continuous building pro-
gram which then seemed in immediate
prospect
Program Soon Prepared
by Patriotic Committee
THE White committee called In
consultant specialists In the mental
and tubercular branches and forged
ahead In fine style. BY the end of
June the outline of its program was
complete. This outline was a brilliant
achievement. II represented stupen-
dous amount OF labor and patriotic
sacrifice. for the members Of the
White committee and their advisers
served without pay. II embodied the
consolidated efforts Of the best brains
and the highest skill in all depart
ments OF medicine and surgery In
America II gave to America and to
the veterans plan for national sys-
tenn OF health reconstruction and
maintenance second 10 none on earth.
II did ALI this in record time and In
the face OF continuous opposition. not
withstanding the warning OF the Sec
retary Of the Treasury that the COM
mittee should work undisturhed.
THAT s1s600. 900 was regarded as a
20 4.
from which the sponsors Of ali sorts
OF pet schemes and enterprises might
find the wherewithal for their fulfill
ment. Before DR.. Whites committee
had time to organize the line had
formed on the left. The Public Health
Service came forward with n proposal
which would have relieved the COM
mittec OF most OF its responsibilities.
Army medical men we're present with
statement OF their needs. as we're
representatives Of the navy.
Gen. Sawyer, the personal physi-
clan OF the President, saw the White
program as an incident in his proposal
for department OF public welfare
Senators and Congress introduced the
claims OF deserving localities seeking
hospital sites; Chambers Of Commerce
cent delegation from every part OF
the country, and so forth. All left
empty handed. DR.. White and his coll
leagues saw, heard and proposed only
with the faculties OF science.
Science may propose. but at Wash
ington politics dispose. In June the
committee announced the first half OF
its program, the ALLEGATION OF s7.o93,-
500 among twelve projects involving
2.sT7 beds. These projects were all
simple. Eleven involved remodeling
or enlargement OF existing buildings
or institutions. One was for the pur-
chase and completion OF 2 hospital al
ready under construction.
July 8 the national hospitaliza ton
committee, meeting at Washington, re-
corded its appreciation OF the progress
OF the White committee.
Projects Complete and
Prompt Publication Pledged
"Dr. White explained to the Legion
body that the balance OF s1Ss00. 900
had been allocated. approved by the
Secretary OF the Treasury, and the
various projects would be ready for
publication within few days As
originally contemplated this balance
was for the construction OF six hos
pitfalls and the remodeling ~ others.
furnishing 4123 beds.