Evening star., 1923-12-11
.N47,64S,639 PAID
in VETERAN RELIEF
Gen. Hines rredicts More e.
ficiency and Lower Costs
for Bureau.

| Relief for veterans of the world war
and it's administration by the Vet
erans' Bureau cost .s447.64s.6Ss during
the past fiscal year, 1T was revealed
in the annual report Of Director
Hines of the Veterans Bureau, pub
lished today.
Discussing the administration of
the Veterans Bureau, which has been
probed by a Senate investigating
committee, Gen. Hines said it had
been severely criticized, and, in all
fairness, 1t must be said that many Of
the criticisms were Very largely justi-
fed"
He added. however, that through
the constructive criticism of many In
dividuals interested in the develop
, ment of the bureau great progress
has been made"
Effects OF War Time.
The bureau" the director said.
"has never fully recovered from con-
ditions that existed during the war
period and Immediately following the
armistice, when all of the RELIEF work
was greatly expanded. Public opin-
Ion should not be too hard on the bu-
reau because OF conditions that could
not be avoided"
To correct organization defects
however, which were responsible for
many of the Ills of the bureau, Mr.
Hines said, there has been "inade-
quate planning" and this of the "op-
portunist variety"
Asserting that political and local
pressure in the matter of locating hos
pitals and other bureau institutions had
a Hines E.
clared that unless bureau officials ARE
freed from excessive interference and
are thus given courage to take action
| they knew D be necessary fol. the
proper conduct of the bureaus busi-
ness. it will be difficult to successfully
avoid the pitfalls that have handi-
capped previous administrations"
Scheme OF Organization.
The chief aim toward bettering con-
ditions now. Mr.. Hines added. must be
a scheme of organization under which
planning and control would. be made
more comprehensive and effective"
Discussing consolida ton of subdiS-
trict offices, which had reduced their
number from 130 on April 26 to ninety
two on November Is, the report said
four other mergers had been approved
and Ave more are 10 be recommended
| by June 80. 1924.
Technical and clerical employees on
the bureaus rolls had been reduced
with reduction of Sl,122,000 in the
monthly pay roll.
Claims Adjudlcated.
The total liability of the govern
ment on account of terme (war-time)
insurance. largely due to the hazards
of war. the report showed, will result
in the final payment of over a billion
or s3O.2S6e claims for compensation
filed to June 80, all but 1856 were
adjudicated 446,115 awards being
made for death and dlsa ability. OF
the latter. $4,000. for disability, and
| $685., for death were active on June
80, representing monthly payments
of $6.802.S90. and $1.4l9,540. respec-
lively. All but 1907 of $4,000 tnsur-
ance claims hled were adjudicated.
In the ninety-one government hospi-
bed capacity of 5,714. there were S2,Sl4
, admissions. Medical and dental ex-
aminationS of beneficiaries totaled L.
526.766. The bureau also utilized
1.o09 civil hospitals for approximate
ly 1856 cases.
With the decreased need for voca-
tional schools thirteen were closed be-
tween March and November, in addi-
tiQn to number consolidated.
"A total of 22.457 men were rehabil-
number to 38.043 since the work be-
gan. RemuneratiUe employment was
found for all except $40 students.
1T Is believed said Gen. Hines.
that on July l, 1924. a total OF ESQ.,
600 veterans will have termina ted
their rehabilitation status" and If
present conditions continue almost
all of the veterans in Gaining, or to
enter training, will have been rehab-
itated by 1925.
The bureaus budget for the fiscal
year 1925 totals s352.275.00O: estimat-
ed cost for 1926, s341, 100000, and
1922, $2S5,15O,000.