Norwich bulletin., 1922-10-16
LEGION REQUESTS sIO.ooo.o .ooo
 FOR REHABILITATION PURPOSES

New Orleans. Oct. I5.-Request for a. ten million dollar appropriation to equip hospitals now being. constructed and 10 build additional hospitals for neuro-' psychiatric patients is contained in the report Of the American Legion's commis-s sion for rehabilitation 10 be laid before the fourth national convention Of the lc-- zion tomorrow by Colonel A. A. spragucr head Of the rehabilitation complssion.- The report criticizes the government achievements to date in caus;ic language.
 The story Of hospital construction by the government up to date" declared the report. judging by actual results. is a tragedy for the sick. a discredit to the government and an afront to the Amer. ican Legion. There is not a reckoning feature in 1t; politics promises. plans failure 10 prepare anything but alibis in advance, red tape, excuses and coaten-e tions conspired- 10 defeat tho actual pro- yiding of needed beds
 Tt is sincerely hoped.1 tho report con- tinues. that this nation will benefit by the mistakes. the sometimes hideo1s err TOTS of the past four years and that there will be a decisive awakening Of the pub-s lie conscience thatwill right the wrongs here recited and carry on tho program and work outlined by the American Le-- gion.'
 The report, after commenting congress for enactinE beneficial laws. sxcorates in- dividual congressman anr senatorE for what it terms their endeavors 10 locate hospitals where they cannot be used. and - to keep hospitals where they arc not needed, and 10 secure employment for their friends"
 President Harding. the report asserts. q decided after conferrins with the United 2 States Veterans' bureau, 10 appoint -co-s | operative committees on rehabilitation" i1 . various districts. to Dc made up Of repre- sentative citizens and eG-scrzioe men. These cooperative committees" the report declares. would have helped to- make a success of tho rehabilitation pro- gram. Tho request fpr approval of this resolution has been on the desk Of the president since June. Up 10 the date of the writing Of this report. no action has | been taken"
 "At the end z. five years" declares ihs. | Sprague report. the government will |. have spent as much in h1sDital constr5c-. ton and rental as was originally esti-
 mated and requested in 1919. In the meantime. during the period when these beds weer most badly needed. when they would have helped to pay the debt this country owed the men who had gwen most. they were lacking 1 What was the substitute2
 Hotels. sanatoriums. nitrate plants, | plants private homes. inebriate asylums. and orphanases were purchased and re- modeled and asked 10 public hospitals. army cantunments and posts to constiluis the present govesnment-owned hospitA.s.
 "on Sept. 15. 1922, there were 5.222 beds in leased hospitals and l.Sli beds. temporary facilities. on government-oWn- cd properties. There wtre 7,s74 pstientr in contract hospitals. 2.sa5 in tuberculosis hospitals I.l23 in neuro-psychiatric hos | pitals and 1,156 in general and surgical hospitals.
 "Unoccupied beds? Yes. a lot of them. Ten thousand of them at that date Most of them useless. because badly placed"