The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1922-06-12

IL E-lafilIalll stJ&ssaL-tsss s's sss
EXPECTED SOON %
WASHINGTON, June ia gen
eral overhauling of thee United
States Veterans Bureau, affecting
perhaps even the position of direc-
Tor. now held by Charles r. Forbes.
is likely within the next two months
as the elimination of dissatisfac-
ton among ex-serrtce men
For months the situation within
the bureau has been the subject OF
serious concern to officers and men
of ex-service organizations, 1nciuo-
ing the American Legion, the Vet
Grams of Foreign Wars and the Dis
abled American Veterans or the
World War. Efforts by these or
ganizations to obtain the fullest
measure of justice for suffering ex-
service men have made little head
Instead of improving. the situa-
ton is declared to be growing
worse.
A certain amount of delay and
confusion was expected 10 follow
the decentralization of bureau work,
following the establishment OF four
teen regional bureaus.
Both the organization and ad-
ministration of these bureaus, how
ever, is now being subjected to
criticism by service organizations.
The charge is made that in many
districts, instead of providing a
shortcut and quick action, they
only add to the,red tape and delay,
The sub-offices, under the dis
trict offices, however. where
more intimate contact ie maintain
ed with the men, are declared to
have been a distinct benefit.
The major part of the attack on
the bureau will be directed against
it's medical organization and delays
in providing better, and more ade-
quate hospitalizations particularly
for tubercu1ar and mental cases
Regular Army Men Make Decisions;
The first part OF this count will
be based on the charge that the
medical direction Of the bureau IS
being Prussianized.
Among service men familiar with
conditions in the bureau 1t is re
garded as significant that two civil
ian physicians of high ability, both
of whom. saw service with the
American army and who are on the
staff of the chief Of the medical dl-
vision, have comparatively little
of the work assigned to them.
Two regular army medical men,
of identical rank in the bureau or
ganization, supplant them IN hano-
-fSlJo q IL
cal decisions. particularly as to per
centage of disability which deter
mines amount of compensation.
Because of the steady increase in
tubercular and mental disabilities
arising from war service. 1t looks as
if the Veterans Bureau will be
called upon to meet claims amount
ing to more than 100000, 900 in the
present fiscal year.
Present expenditures are we'll
above s1.000,000 a day.
Arbitrary Findings Reduce
Expenses.
Arbitrary medical findings, it Is
declared, more than any other one
thing, can be counted on to hoid
down the amount needed to meet
payments.
Every case of mo disability" or
mo disability traceable to service"
means money saved for the admin
istration, even though it may mean
an Injustice to an eX-service man.
Every disability rated as 80 per
cent instead Of $40 per cent" Or
40 per cent" instead OF :" temporary
total or .spermanent total" means
dollars saved to the government
treasury
There is no lodging the fact that
many gold brickers" seek compen'
sation. There are bound to be un-
scrupulous persons in an army OF
100000 men.
knowledged active tuberculosis
who apply for disability ratings
within two years from the date Of
discharge?
The law covering disability allow
ances Specifically provides that
case of tuberculosis developing
within two years after discharge
shall be considered as incurred in
service and so allowed.
Yet within a month such cases
have been disallowed by the regu-
lar army medicaA~ men of the bG-
reau, and only finally passed when
American Legion officials demand
ed that the law be followed.
Failure 10 HldiHldlA SSScHLiehA
personal and sympathetic touch,
both with men undergoing hospital
ization and with those being given
vocational rehabilitation. is charg-
ed against the bureau. The case
of a law class right in Washing
ton. the home Of the bureau. is cit
ed as typical:
Here $50 trainees are taking a
course in law
There is just ONE man to super
wise the training of these $50 men.
| Necessarily. the human equation is
virtually nil.
Forbes Victim OF circumstances. :"
Director Forbes is declared to be
victim of circumstances and sur
roundings.
His greatest fault. 1t Is said even
bv the bureaus severest critics, is
that he has permitted himself to be
swept along on a tide OF admins
tration and army policy. rather than