The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-01
VETERANS BUREAU AGAIN

The senate committee of preliminary in- quiry into the conduct of the veterans bu- reau reports that it has found charges of a serious nature, which have so far remain ed uncontradicted. The committee recom- mends a joint committee of investigation to delve more deeply into the situation and to make complete report to congress at the next session, meanwhile handing over to the department of justice any evidence of criminal nature.
 If there is one thing the people of this country are united upon, it is that all dis abled and incapacitated veterans shall be given the very best of attention and the widest possible opportunity to be cured and started in some profitable occupation or calling. Yet there has been an abundance of unrefuted evidence that this object of the veterans bureau is not being satisfactorily attained. Nearly half billion dollars an- nually is being spent ostensibly in behalf of the veterans, yet there has been a steady murmur of complaint that should no longer be ignored If there is no ground for the complaints the bureau should be completely and definitively vindcated. If there are grounds for the complaints,f then there should be prompt and effective measures to remove them.
 The debt we owe the men who have suf- fered injury to body and health in war we can never repay. But we can do all that IS humanly possible to remedy their bodily hurts, or else to maintain them in comfort for the rest of their lives. No sort of ar- gument can nullify that responsibility. The Veterans bureau is the agency through which the people of this country have hoped that the veterans were being cared for. Not only must that bureau function in the highest degree of beneficial result, but there must be allowed no breath of scandal to cause public uneasiness as to its conduct. Only complete and exhaustive inquiry, which will run down every charge and every case of alleged neglect, and place the re- sponsibility therefor, will satisfy the public conscience in this matter.
 The fact that a preliminary survey con- vinces the committee that deeper inquiry is necessary should persuade congress to immediate appointment of such committee of inquiry. And when that is done all of those who have valid charges 'of neglect, incompetence and mishandling of funds should lay their evidence before the com mttee. According to the report by Sena- tor Sutherland, "opportun1ry should be given to all those who have any facts at their command indicating waste, msman- agement, or other abuse of any kind to pre- sent such charges to an authorized com mttee of the congress and to testify under oath regarding them, giving to those ac- cused ample opportunity to dsprove them"
 There is general inclination to believe that there are abuses in the management of the bureau, for brave and tested vete- rans would otherwise not be raising their voices in complaint that their suffering comrades were not being properly relieved, nor their cases thoroughly diagnosed and treated in accordance with the best sclen- tific skill and knowledge. Therefore, the people of this country demand the invest- gation and want it to be thorough in, every detail.