Evening star., 1923-03-10
Will Speed Up Hospital Work
to Give immediate Relief
to Service Men,.
SUSPENDS FORBES ORDER
TO TRANSFER CAPT. HAHN
Thousands of Claimants in Wash
ington and Fourth District to
Stay Under Care.

Brig. Gen. Frank r. Hines ,he new
director Of the Veterans Bureau, said
today his policy for operation Of the
bureau would be based on elimination
of red tape" in handling veterans
claims, prevention Of hard boiled
methods in treatment of veterans, and
q speeding up Of hospital work 80
as to- give immediate relief wher-
ever needed.
His chief work for the moment. the
director said. was to coordinate and
perfect the hospital service. Wher-
ever new construction is going on,
he said, the work would be hurried.
All complaints concerning hospital
facilities are being run down and
corrective measures. including elimi-
nation of fire hazards, are being
taken.
Suspends Forbes Order.
In line with his expressed policy
of conservatism In changing per-
sonnel with the Inauguration of the
new administration of the bureau,
Gen. Hines announced today he had
suspended the eleventh. hour order of
retiring Director Forbes which would
have transferred Capt A. f. Hahn
from the position of manager of the
fourth district, including the city of
Washington. to become laison officer
and assistant to the director.
The action of Director Hines means
that the thousands OF claimants in
Washington and states of the fourth
district will continue under the su-
pervision of Capt. Hahn, who or
ganized the district. instead of a
manager taking up the new work a:
the same time change was made in
directors. Those in close touch with
the situation feel that the conserva-
tive step of Gen. Hines in suspending
the action of Col. Forbes will work
to the benefit of veterans in Wash
ington
May Go Later.
Capt Hahn later may be trans
ferred to the new and important posi-
tion OF liaison officer to look into
the possibility OF coordination with
other departments and the public
Director Hines Indicating specifically
today that he had not revoked Col.
Forbes order.
Capt Hahn explained that he had
offered his services to Gen. Him. in
any capacity where he could be of
the most service. The local district
in many ways being considered a
difficult one, on account Of including
the District Of Columbia, and being
so close under the eye of Congress
Director Hines wished Capt. Hahn 70
carry on the work he had organized
The fourth district has been con-
sidered by officials of the bureau to
be one Of the best administered of
the fourteen throughout the country.
Half a Million Dollars Saved.
In a special report to the director
at the time of Col Forbes retirement
Capt. Hahn pointed out that great
savings had been effected in promot-
ing efficiency and economy through
out the fourth district. to such an ex-
tent that he would estimate a total
savings of approximately half a mil
lion dollars.
Part of this saving, Capt Hahn
pointed out, had been accomplished in
the Washington dispensary, which
had been taken over from the public
health service.
"Complete reorganization" of the
Washington dfspensary had resulted
Capt. Hahn said. in a net reduction of
about $4,000. I'm January. 1922
when the dispensary was still a part
of the United States public health
service. but devoted exclusively TO
United States Veterans Bureau work
there were 80 doctors on duty; ex-
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