Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1923-02-17
VETERANS BUREAU
DIRECTOR FORBES
RESIGNS HIS POST
Three Overseas Men Con-
sidered as Successor,
Larsen ReneWs Fight for
Sweeping Investigation

WASHINGTON, Feb. IS. - The
resignation of Colonel Charles r.
Forbes as director of the Veterans
bureau has been placed in the
hands of President Harding and the
president is considering appointment
of one of three former overseas
service men to the dictatorship, it
was said definitely today in admin
istration quarters.
At the same time, however, it
was indicated that the appointment
of a successor to Colonel Forbes
might not be made Immediately and
that he might resume his duties
temporarily after his return from
Europe, where he recently went on
vacation trip.
In view of the criticism of his
administration which has been voic-
cd by officials of the American
Legion, members of congress and
others, it was said that Colonel
Forbes might desire to postpone his
retirement for time in order not
to be in the position of quitting
his post under fire.
Such delay however, will not
interfere with plans which now are
gazing forward to select another di-
rector. 1t was understood today
that Colonel Thomas w. Miller,
now alien property custodian, al
though President Harding's first
choice for the place, has Informed
the White House he would prefer
The names of the three men under
consideration were not divulged.
The affairs of the bureau are un-
der investigation by special SEN
ate committee whose members have
indicated that they would ask for
broader powers which will enable
them to go fully into the subject
during the coming recess of con-
gress. Several resolutions propos-
ing investigation also have been in
troduced in the house, and it has
been predicted that house members
would be added to the present SEN
ate committee before the congress
sional session ends, March A..
A sweeping investigation of the
bureau and all of it's activities
was proposed in a resolution intro
duced Wednesday by Representative
Larsen, Democrat, of Georgia, which
set forth that numerous charges of
graft, waste, extravaganza, irregu-
larities and mismanagement are al
legged to have resulted in the opera
ton OF the affairs of the bureau ana
have been chargd in the press, upon
the floor of congress and elsewhere. "
During the past several months,
the resolution says, the resignation
of officers entrusted with the eXpendi-
ture of funds in the bureau land
the management of it's affairs have
occurred under circumstances not al
together satisfactory to the public"
The resolution would provide for
an investigating committee of three
senators and three members of the
house to inquire into the work of the
bureaus central. regional and SUBJ
offices, hospitals and vocational train
ing schools, the handling of compen-
sation claims, allotments, insurance,
the rental or sale of property and
various other activities.
In a statement accompanying the
resolution, Mr.. Larsen said he had in
troduced a resolution last March ask
ing for an investigation of the bu-
reau, but that the rules committee,
to which it was referred, had failed
to report it, Notwithstanding his re-
neated renueStS for action