The Washington times., 1923-01-30
MILLER IS
LIKELY To
SUCCEED
FORBES
Resignation of Present Direc-
tor Expected to Be Signal &
For Reorganization.
by ROBERT 5. THORNBURGH.
-. -

~. InternatlenaIl News Service. Il
The resignation of Col. Charles
r. Forbes as director of the Vet,
Grams Bureau, expected shortly.
will be, a signal for general
shake-up of that department Of
the Government, officials close to.
President Harding declared today
Plan IL ReOrganixatf0n.
Reorganizatfon Of the veterans
bureau. most likely to be entrust.
ed So Col. Thomas W. Miller, alien
property custodian and member Of
the national executive committee Of
the American Legion viii include.
it was said:
Elimination Of departmental red
tape in action on matters pertain
ing to claims of ex-service men.
Abandonment OF hard boiled.
methods and coordination of all
branches of the bureau looking to-
higher efficiency.
Probable dropping from the pay.
roll of the bureau of practically all
male employees who are not former
service men.
An end of system which. Amer
lean Legion officials contend, makes
it necessary for the ex-service men
to fight the Government for every
thing that Is rightfully his"
Miller Leading Candidate.
Administration officials said Col.
Miller is the leading candidate for
dictatorship Of the Veterans Ru-
dea. though he is known to be-
lieve the post "a thankless job. !
While satisfied. with his present po
sition, Col. Miller has remarked he
is willing to accept any job in
which he may be of service to the
former service man.
Within the next few days Col.
Miller will confer with President
Harding and lay before the chief
executive several important mat
tiers which developed at the recent
meeting Of the national executive.
lcommittee- of the legion at Indian
apolis. At this time Col. Miller is
expected to discuss with the Presi-
dent the dictatorship of the bureau,
Administration leaders are known
to. favor the appointment Of Colonel
Miller, since it would go a long WY
toward healing the breach with tae
American Legion. caused by the
veto of the bonus bill. The PreNf
dent is said to be. anxious to have
an ex-service man attempt to cure
what has been termed the ADMINS
tration "sore spot"
Miller Opposed Cramer.
Colonel Miller, at the Indianapo-
lis executive committee meeting,
seconded a resolution asking the
resignation of General Counsel
Charles Cramer. Cramer was not
an ex-service man and was chErged
with being 'unfriendly' to the vsr
Grams.
Miller was an officer OF the Sew
enty-ninth division in the American
Expedionary Forces and was Sc
Iected to represent his regiment in
the caucus which organized the
American Legion in the Cirque de
Paris. in 1919. He was chairman
IF the initial caucus and was first
chairman of the national legislative
committee. Since that time he has
heen on the national executive com
mittee. Tn,
Scott May Be Returned.
It is understood after the ap.
pointment of the new director DR..
Hugh r. Scott, who had been as.
sistant and acting director, but
who was sent to Oklahoma as
hospital chief. will be returned to
his old post here. Ex-service mems
organizations opposed the elimina!
ton of DR.. Scott as deputy chief
claiming he had been instrumental
in action favorable TO veterans.
Colonel Forbes will remain In
Europe several months. He was
said to be on the verge Of
physical breakdown. There was
some indication today that Forbes
would ~be taken care Of on his
return from abroad.