Evening star., 1923-04-04
Friends of Congressman Will
Not Be Considered Out of
! Turn, Director Says.
CASES TO BE NUMBERED,
WITH MOST NEEDY FIRST
Unfair Official influence to Dis
criminate a Great Hindrance,
He Insists.

Director Hines of the Veterans Bu-
reau today moved to put stop 10
political influence by members OF
Congress who force special consid-
Grafton for their disabled veteran
friends. and constituents. ahead OF
more worthy claims.
Although the announcement given
out at the bureau simply revealed the
method by which Director Hines mas
ordered all pending claims reclas-
sifed, and the order in which they
shall be considered. II was inter-
preted as being a direct blow at
practice of members of Congress
which has proved to be a virtual
monkey wrench in the machinery OF
the operation of the Veterans Bureau
since 1t began the complete admins
tration of government welfare FOR
disabled Of the world war.
Under the order Of Director Hines,
all pending claims. numbering about
$500, will be classified into three
groups-emergency. routine and those
in which no action. or only supple
mentary action. will be necessary
This reclassification is to be made of
cases pending before the medical
board of review and the board of ap-
peals. with a view to bringing to the
immediate consideration Of the ou-
reaus those claims which by their
emergency nature merit the first at
tention. Under this classification all
cases will be numbered and then will be
taken up according to their numbers.
so that most urgent cases will always
be uppermost and the most needy vet
Grams be awarded the first attention.
This will prevent. 1t Is expected. the
pushing ahead Of unworthy claims.
through political or other influence,
and consequent injustice.
Great Waste Of Time.
During the administration of former
Director Charles r. Forbes 1t was an
open secret that the operations OF
members of Congress inside the
Veterans Bureau, in attempting to
get special consideration for their
friends and constituents. consumed an
enormous amount of the time and at
tention of the bureau officials. The
ONCE Of the director has always seen
an intermittent stream of visitors
from Capitol Hill. With the announce
mont todav of Director Hines. this
practice has been brought to the at
tention of the public for the frst
time. and promises to receive mucn
consideration, not only inside the
bureau, but among the members OF
Congress themselves.
Emergency Cases First.
Cen Hines, true to his policy of
conservatism. yet courage. In facing
the trying situation at the bureau.
gave out the announcement today
in a spirit not of pique at Congress.
but with the hope that a sane admin
fstration Of the new rules, aimed at
bringing relief to the most needy
f,rst of all, will deserve the Coop
Grafton of Congress"
At the same time II was announced
that opportunities for vocational
training have been extended under a
recent decision of the controller gen.
eral. which may permit large num-
Der of disabled veterans who otner-
wise would have been excluded to
partake of the privileges of being re-
habilitated In vocational training.
Virtually. the ruling Is taken as
meaning that q veteran who attempt
ed vocational education under the So
called section 3. where a veteran
must support himself, and who had
been forced to give 1T up. is not
necessarily thereby debarred from So
called section 2, under which a vet
eran Is trained, with maintenance.
Amatter of sharp interest to Wash
ington disabled veterans came to
light when Director Hines let II be
known that there is a proposal be-
fore him that the Washington dis
pensary remain open for three hours
one night week for the benefit of
local benefciaries of the bureau who
are busy during the day and wish to
save time. No action. II was an.
nounced. has as yet been taken on
the proposal