The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-03-30
M TIONAL
SCANDAL
SEEN BY
0'RYAN
Special Counsel for Senate
Committee Proposes Inquiry
III Every State.
BY WIN. X. HUTCHINSON.
aCopyright. 1925, by international
M News Service.

4 - La
| News Service.)
Evidence Of wild extrasa-
gance" and alleged IRREGULAR
ties" ii the control Of hospitaliza-
ton, funds, which may ultimately
reach the proportions of q ma
tional scandal, has been unearthed
by the preliminary Senatorial in
vestigation of the United States
Veterans Bureau, international
News Service learned officially to-
day.
Gross Abuses" Revealed.
After merely touching the sur
face Of the bureaus administrative
record, the Senatorial inquiry ID
said to have revealed instances Of
gross abuses in the award Of
contract payments for dental treat
ment of former soldiers. These con-
tract payments were involved in
expenditures running into millions
of dollars, it was said.
Other evidence now in the hands
OF the investigators is understood
to indicate that the inquiry would
ultimately reveal gross negligence,
and perhaps even actual dishonesty,
IN the administration of the bureau.
The preliminary probe, which IN
earthed this evidence, was con-
Quoted by Maj. Gen. John F.
special counsel to the Senate COM
n1ittee. A special report setting
forth his findings to date has been
prepared by General Organ for
submission to the COMMITTEES.
AS a result of the preliminary rev.
Citations. General Organ has taken
steps to create special investigating
agencies in every State of the Union.
These State boards will be composed
of widely known lawyers who also
served in the army during the war.
They will be empowered to hear
complaints of disqualification
abuses, in their own States and to
submit recommendations for remedial
action to the State committee.
Bar Associations to Help.
In order to organize these agencies
General Organ has appealed to the
presidents of the bar associations Of
all States for recommendation on
their membership. General Organ
will name the board members from
the names submitted by the bar presi-
dents.
IhlS action was taken TO give
every State an equal opportunity to
be heard on complaints against the
management of the Veterans
Bureau. The findings of the State
boards later will be submitted to the
Senate committee.
Evidence of alleged Irregularities
in the control of disqualification funds
was revealed at q recent conference
held by General Organ with certain
present officials Of the bureau. Fol
lowing this conference, General
Organ was quoted as saying that
the evidence gave promise of q ma
tional scandal" in expenditures for
dental treatments. 1t was revealed
that $4,000, 900 had been spent by the
bureau in the six months preceding
June 80, 1922, in caring for the teeth
Of disabled veterans Examination
of the veterans records, It was said.
showed that few Of the
patients had suffered dental defects
as result of war service.
Paid For Work Not Done.
In addition to evidence of un-
justified expenditures, it is said, the
also developed in
stances where contract dentists
were paid for work that was never
done and others still were lavishly
paid for superficial work. In this
one phase Of the investigation. fur