The New York herald., 1922-09-17
E0scfaI Dispatch 10 THE NEW YORK HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. Sept. 16. !

"HERE are to-day approximately
$4,000 beds available for dis
abled veterans OF the world war
in ninety-nine Government hospitals
under the control, either directI or
remotely, Of the United States Vet
r erans' Bureau, and about 10000 Of
these bcds are unoccupied. according
TO the latest figures obtained from the
Veterans Bureau and the Federal
.e. board of disqualification.
On August 10. when the last COM
se' ,ste figures Of the bureau were avail
r+f ole, there were 25,973 disabled vet
Grams hospitalized at Government ex-
pense, In Government and Contract
hospitals. which was decrease OF
something like $500 since the first of
March.
Yet. In face Of these figures, OBJ
tained from the latest weekly hospital
ization census report of the Veterans
Bureau, prepared by Col c. r. Forbes,
director of the bureau the American
Legion stoutly contends that the Gov
ernment system of disqualification of
veterans stands universally con-
demned and inexcusable on any
grounds"
with amazing vitality this system
perseveres' declares a writer for the
national rehabilitation committee of
the Legion, for reasons of politics,
incompetence. selfishness, ingratitude,
negligence, sothfulness and petty
pickering among official bureaus and
bureaucrats which seem incredible,
while the disabled veteran remains an
uncontrolled pawn in the game" MI
Charges of mistreatment of patients
In United States Veterans Hospital
No. 81. in the Borough Of the Bronx,
city of New York, led this week to
the introduction In the House of Rep
resentatives Of a resolution by Rep
resentative Albert B. Rossdale, Repub-
lican Congressman of that district,
calling for an investigation by a spe-
cial committee of conditions In that
and other hospitals. He declared that
an inquiry now in progress under the
supervision of Director Forbes of the
Veterans Bureau is being conducted
so as to avoid the disclosure of any
facts rejecting adversely upon the
management of the institution.
"A Congressional Investigation will
throw light upon the conditions pre-
vailing in that hospital" said Mr.
Rossdale, land the other veterans
hospitals throughout the country where
charges OF cruelty and mistreatment
are being made. and action by Con-
gress will inevitably result in remedy
ing them"
Col. Forbes was asked by the THE
New York HERALD correspondent
whether there are any disabled vet
Grams without Government care. and
he replied:
The Bureau at the present time is
able to hospitalize either in Govern
ment or contract institutions every
disabled ex-service man applying for
hospital care and treatment 1t is also
able to give through it's out-patient
and dispensary facilities all temporary
medical care and treatment which may
be necessary"
Total of Patients Declines
at Rate of 754 Month
So severe is the criticism of the
Government disqualification operations
by the American Legion that THE
New YORK HERALD has sought to delve
10 the bottom of the controversy Of
prime Importance to all Americans
who desire the best trea tment possible
given TO the disabled veterans Of tho
World War. and who want TO know
what Is being done with the millions
OF dollars Congress is appropriating
for their care.
Col. Forbes's report shows that the
cared for at Government expense on
August 10 were divided as follows
among various classes OF hospitals:
Vets Bureau hospltals........ II. .7so
MARI Corps hospitals ........... 3T
ARM hospitals .............,........ l,b41
Naval hospitals ..................... SE
Soldiers homes ..s................... 2.2SS
Interior Department hospitals. S4
Civilian institutions ................. s.1b0
These civilian institutions are
mostly what are officially called con
tract" hospitals, and II is these to
which the American Legion raises the
greatest objections. Col. Forbes has
Furnished THE NEW YORK HERALD with
a statement of patients In these con-
tract hospitals as late as September 8.
which shows total of S,o55 on that
date. or this number. 2.6s5 are tuber-
culosis patients. 4.140 are mental cases.
classified officially as ro-psychiat-
ric patients. and 1870 are general
cases
There are. according to Col. Forbes.
1890 contract hospitals on the Vet
erans' Bureau list. 634 Of which had
Government patients on September 5.
There were Government patients in
752 civilian hospitals, lis of which
were not classified officially as "con-
tract" institutions.
Brig. Gen. Charles T.. Sawyer. per-
sonal friend and physician Of Presi-
dent Harding and chief coordinator Of
the Federal Board Of disqualification,
which means that he ls the Presidents
most Intimate adviser on all matters
relating 10 the disqualification OF war
veterans. has emphasized that there
are more than 10000 unoccnpied beds
I'm hospitals directly or indirectly
owned or controlled by the Veterans
Bureau. and that since February IS
the average decrease in the number
of patients in these hospitals has been
T54 a month.
True says the Legion. whose ma
iionai committee on rehabilitation.