The Caledonian-record. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1920-current, 1922-03-03

ably Congressman John J. Rogers
of Massachusetts, and members
Of Col. Dale's Committee on EX-
pcnditures in the Treasury De-
partment, are hard at work to in
duce the Government to lease for
a term of years the Groton insti
tuition and thereby give it that
status of permancy so desirable in
the treatment of its cases.
There has been a disposition on
the part of the Veterans Bureau
so to construc the Sweet law crca-
ting it as to prevent the leasing
of such plant for this purpose
by the Government, and one of
the features Of the movement
undertaken by Col. Dale has been
to obtain a different intel'preta
ton by the author Of the law him
self, Congressman Burton +.
Sweet. of Iowa. To impress upon
Col. c. r. Forbes, Director of
the Veterans Bureau, this con-
trary construction of the law by
its author, Col. Dale persuaded
Judge Sweet to accompany him
to Col. Forbes office, where the
Iowa member pointed out how UNI
der Section 9 Of the law it was
permissible for the Bureau to en-
ter into such lease of the Gro
ton hospital as is advocated. In
this interview it appeared that
Mr.. Sweet carried his point COM
pletely, and Col. Dale believes
that objection to the plan on the
score of the acts construction
has been definitely set aside.
1t is possible that the Bureau
head may now see his way to
executing an agreement, or lease,
for a period of, say, five years, of
this contract hospital, and thus
terminate the uncertain 30-day-at-
a-time tenure under which the
Government mas been operating
there.
Congressman Dale is very much
in earnest in his desire that the
Groton institution shall function
to the very best advantage for
the fenefit of the Vermont and
other veterans there undergoing
treatment. Not many weeks apo
he took trip to Groton for the
purpose Of looking into conditions
there. 1t appears that Bellows
Falls soldier, VIII II. Dean, was
largely instrumental in calling to
Col. Dale'S attention the situation
at this hospital, and the Yer
mont Congressman was so inn
pressed with the justice of the
mems plea that he felt it advis-
able to make a first hand investi-
CATION. What he found in his
visit determined him upon the
course which has been pursued.
"The Groton hospital situation
demands immediate attention on
the part of the Government" said
Col. Dale to your correspondent.
Things can't 90 on as they have
been going. Something ought to
be done and that soon.
"This institution has been treat
ing boys from Vermont and from
all over New England. In fact,
with the exception of the hospi
tai at Rutland. Mass, it is the
only place in New England where
these tubercular cases can be
taken care of suitably. Today
there are something like three
thousand tubercular cases in New
England that ought to have hos
pitalization, and it would be
great mistake to close the Groton
plant, especially as they are full
to overlooking at Rutland, and
this hospital IS not yet developed
to its greatest capacity. There
are probably Is or 20 young men
from Vermont at Groton; they
are doing well and making good
progress, and they do not want
to be transferred to some Other
place. There are now, or have
been. boys from Caledonia coun-
ty. Bellows Falls, Brattleboro,
Rutland. Burlington, and in fact
from all over Vermont, at the
Groton establishment, and we
are trying to do all we can to in
sure stability and permanency to
the disqualification work carried
ontherc.'
The Vermonter's efforts in be
half of eX-serVice men are fami-
liar to the boys at the Groton
Some time ago Il
committee representing the pa
tients there of their own accord
arrived at the conclusion that the
people Of Mr.. Dale's home state
should know about his GOOD work
for the veterans, with special re-
ference to his exceptional success
in obtaining awards for them
from what was then the Bureau
of War Risk Insurance, and they
accordingly issued a letter of
grateful acknowledgment ovel
their own signatures, referring to
the Congressman broad sympa-
thies with all eX-service men in
hospitals, whether they are his
own constituents or not
Further testimony came from
one of the staff of the insti- |
tuition, Miss Kathryn Mckenzie, !
Director She wrote
Col. Dale: 81 have intended to
write you every day thanking you
for the noble work that |
you have accomplished with the |
boys in the Groton Private HoSpi- |
tai. If you, could only see the |
boys when an award has been |
granted, you could see the result |
of your efforts"
HENRY NJ. BARRY. |