The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-11-13
Forbes to
Take Stand
in Defense
Former Director of Veterans
Bureau Expected to Testi-
fly for Two Days on
Conduct of Office.
Mortimer to be Recalled

Washington, Nov. 12.-The senate
Investigating committee prepared to-
day for the appearance before it to-
morrow of Charles r. Forbes, former
director of he veterans bureau, who
has been the center of fire in the
inquiry.
Forbes is to take he stand the first
thing in the morning and the expec-
tation is that his direct and cross
Examination will consume upwards of
two days. At the outset he will ask
permission to read a prepared state
mont in reply to he charges which
have been made against him.
Besides appearing in his own be-
half. theformer director plans to call
army and navy officers, who will be
questioned with a view to refuting
esimony which has been given with
regard to the awarding of contracts
for veterans hospitals. The COM
mittee also expects to recall for cross
examination Elias II. Mortimer of
Philadelphia. whose charges against
Forbes provided one of the sensa-
tions of the hearing.
was directed largely to he operations
of the medical division. DIR. L. B.
Rogers, director of that division, was
the witness and he stated there had
been great abuses in the use of con-
tract hospitals, not only with respect
tocharges made to the government,
but also In the matter of the care
of the veterans and the food served
to them.
Senator Walsh, democrat, Massa-
chusetts, developed that In some in
used to keep contract hospitals in
operation after examination by
bureau officials has shown them to
be unsatisfactory. Senator Walsh
pointed to the case of such a hospital
in New England which was not
closed until two years after it had
been found to be unfit.
DR.. Rogers could give little infor-
mation as to alleged abuses in the
matter OF the appointment of guar
Mans for mentally incompetent vet
srans, but Senator Reed, republican.
Pennsylvania, chairman of the COM
mittee, said approximately $500, 900
is paid out annually TO such guar
dians without proper safeguards as
to It's disposition.
Senator Reed was insistent as to
why there has not been readjust-
ments of ratings of disabled men
which, he said, in some cases work to
the disadvantage of the government
and in many more to the disadvantage
of the veterans. Referring to the re-
commentators OF a former senate in
yestigating committee on this subject.
Senator Reed declared it was useless
for congress to have committees in
uuire into this matter IL the recon-
mendations of such committees are
not followed.
DIR. Rogers replied that the rating
schedule is now under revision. Re-
called at his own request. Lieutenant
Commander Charles r. O'Leary, u. S.
N, former director of the division of
supply OF the veterans bureau, con-
tradicted the testimony of Brigadier
General Charles f. Sawyer that 1t
was DIR. Sawyer who stopped the ship
ments Of property from Perrvilyle'
Md
Commander o Leary said that when
DIR. Sawyer arrived at Perryville,
O'Leary had in his hand telegram
instructing him to stop the shipments
and that he was on his way to see
the officer in charge to give the ne
cessary instructions.
who signed that telegram" asked
Senator Reed on behalf of counsel for
Charles r. Forbes" was the reply.
Forbes.