The Washington times., 1923-11-13
IND0CENT
OFGU.I
CLAIM
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examined by the committees coun.
eel.
Under direct questioning by his
Forbes declared he had found hos.
pitaIization conditions absolutely
deplorable" when he took office in
April, 1921.
) Found Fire Traps.
81 suspected many OF our hos.
pitfalls Of the cantontnent type and
found they were all hazards" Col.
Forbes said. II visited the hos.
pital At Fox Hill, New York and
found Il the greatest fire-trap we
had. After some effort 7 got II
Forbes said he saved the Gov.
eminent $1,500,O00 in rentals by
eliminating the fire-trap hos.
pftals.'
Touching on his office work,
Forbes said, he worked "an average
Of sixteen hours q day, granted
0eVenty-five interviews and signed
from Oeventy.five to 100 letters
daily. He added the bureau re-
ceived $4,000 letters day.
Forbes then went into detail
about the interference with Vet.
Grams Bureau affairs by General
Sawyer" He charged Sawyer with
usurping the authority Of the di.
rector.
Troubles with Sawyer.
ION several occasions. Sawyer told
his callers 4 am the Veterans Blu.
reau; come to see me II you want
Anything,
How, did. General Sawyer inter
1ere2" Forbes was asked.
He was constantly opposing the
calling Of conferences of scientists
and physicians to discuss the cases
Of disabled veterans" said Forbes.
What else?s
Sawyer was insistent that tuber-
eulosis. neuro-psychidtric medical
and surgical cases be housed to-
eether, although all our medical
advisers were opposed to this. He
insisted on this. although each class
ef disease required different
treatment. All In all. he had q
very bltter feeling toward me. =
said Forbes.
Quotes DR.. Lorenz. e
There was a conference Of ply
siciails held at the White House
with DR.. Lorenz, the famous sur
geon, attending. Lorenx told the
president: I came here to aAk you
60 remove DIR. Sawyer. He IL in
competent. and not in sympathy
with the ex-seryice men. /"
ibid DR.. Eawyer's attitude bear
upon homeopathic physicians?" asked
Colonel Easby-Sniith.
Yes, sir, Sawyer got it in his head
that physicians were against him be-
cause he was q homeopathic prAo-
stitioner," Forbes replied.
Sawyer said he was going TO seq
that homeopathic had their inning"
Ordered Empleye Retained.
Forbes then told of sawyer ORDER
ing him to reinstate a dismissed emf
pIoye.
what authority did he have to
Rive you such an order?
~f5e always said the President
save It 70 him."
did you ever srsvOle orders on
s'sofnetines did. You would too
e you received an order by direc.
ton of the President"
Did you complain to the Presi'
aent?'
''I did."
what was the rewult?"
'"The President said that Sawyer
vas just getting Information, and
was acting for him In some mat
ters," said Forbes.
ibid you think Sawyer had sui
Acient authority TO override you
I'm that particulars instance the
man was reinstated." said Forbes.
Explaining his early dealings with
General Sawyer colonA Forbes
eAid.
Appointed Co-Ordinsebr.
HGenSfAl Sawyer was appointed
c6-ordinAtor and also chairman Of
the Federal Board Of Hospitalixa-
ton. I was vice chairman OF that
board. understood General
Sawyer was to cooperate with the
Veterans Bureau. He defined his
opn duties and exhibited a letter
from President Harding giving him
jurisdiction over some activities OF
the bureau. He occupied a suite OF
offices In the Veterans Bureau. One
room was not enough tOr him."
''What was the function Of this
Federal Board Of Hospitalization7'
asked Senator Walsh, Democrat, OF
Massachusetts,.
Thought It Advisory.
ct understood It was to advise
with us on hospital facilities for
the disabled veterans" said Forbes.
General Sawyer said his letter
from the President gave him au-
thority over construction, selection
Of sites. purchase Of supplies and
other Matters" said Forbes.
You had authority over such
matters youfSelf?" said Senator
Walsh.
eyes sir, by law" replied Forbes.
Ibid this board. OF which General
Sawyer was chairman, and which
dealt with 30 many matters, keeE
records Of Its votes on subjects de-
cided by it?" asked Senator Oddit
Rep.) OF Nevada.
They kept records. but do not