Bisbee daily review., 1922-06-17
ARMY Officer
T TANGLED lin
Red T ape
BY HARRY 3. HUNT

WASHINGTON, June 16.-Decentra-
lization has resulted in more red tape
entangling disabled eX-service men
who are seeking government aid.
Decentralization was accomplished
by the passage of the Sweet bill 10
months ago, setting up II regional Of
fices scattered throughout the nation,
with authority to act on ex-service
mems claims.
These regional offices were expect
ed to speed up action on claims. In
stead, due to red tape, they have piled
delay on top of delay. Now veterans
organizations are seriously consider
ing asking their adjustment.
"complicating and Delaying
Action"
81 am convinced" says representa-
tive Roy o. Woodruff of Michigan,
himself an eX-service man, that the
regional offices are complicating and
delaying action on 4 very large per-
centage of cases. If | had my way,
they would be eliminated.
The sub-offices, however, are doing
good work. In my judgement, how
ever, cases would be handled more
speedily and with more justice if the
sub-offices reported direct to the cen
trail office at Washington instead OF
to regional Offices
The same attitude is reflected by
officers of the American Legion.
The legion supported the legislation
creating the district offices.
Theoretically, by setting up branch
officers with power to dispose of all
but death and total disability claims.
the work of handling the hundreds OF
thousands of cases coming to the bui
eau would be expedited.
Politics Help to Hamper
System
Theoretically, also, by being in clo-
ser touch with the man, and by a
larger percentage of the men being
enabled to take their cases up direct
ly with the men who were to pass on
them, even more justice would be pos
sible. That was the idea back Of de-
Capitalization.
But in practice, factors not fully
considered appear to have intruded.
To what extent politics, particularly
internal bureau politics, has affected
efficient administration Of the district
offices, it is Of course impossible to
say. But there is evidence that it
has played no small part.
For months officers of the legion
and other veterans organizations
waited. hoping that conditions would
improve. They realized the transfer
of the large number of cases to the
district offices involved vast amount
of routine work; that the building up
OF district organizations required time.
But from their check on cases han
died. and from appeals to them to as
sist men in, securing reconsideration
of cases flagrantly out of line with
decisions rendered, they have about
reached the conclusion that decentTa-
lization. instead of aiding the cause of
the men, has only added to the per-
centage of unjust ratings.
Typical Instance of Office
Error
Typical of the complaints against
Congressman Carroll Reese OF Ten
nessee. Reese himself served at the
findings by district offices is one by
front with A. +. F., was cited for BRAY
cry by Marshall Petain, and is the
holder of three metals for distin-
guished service.
"A young mountain boy who had
contracted tuberculosis in the service
applied to the Atlanta district office
for disability aid" Reese said, "-Nfter
lcng delay, an examining surgeon
visited his home. The boy was then
down in bed, unable to be about. The
tuberculosis had attacked the bones,
and the bones OF one leg were about
gone.
THAT was last February. When
finally q rating was secured from the
Atlanta office, which was only after