New Britain herald., 1923-10-23
sA,ooo Handed Over For Architects Plans For Hospital But Draw ings Were Found Un- suitable
Of 1S3,O0O Disability Claims Allowed, Only 25 Per Cent Resulted From Wounds Received in Action.

Washington. Oct. 2s.-rhe special senate committee investigating the Veterans bureau was told today by Director Hines that on ono occasion the bureau paid $o4.ooo for archi- tects' plans for a hospital at Liver more. Calf, and then found that the drawings submitted were unsuitable.
 Used Stork Plans
 The director said the payment was made before he came into office and that the recipient. Matthew O'Brien of Los Angeles, had filed claim for an additional s13,oo0, which was dis allowed. General Hines added that O'Brien had come to Washington and had received standard plans for pub- lie buildings from the war and treas- ury department and that these plans were followed closely in the drawings he later submitted for Lfvermore.
 Demanded $5,OO0 Refund
 The director testified that he filed q claim against MT. O'Brien for 8 res fund of s5,ooO on the original pay- ment and that the architect then placed the matter in the hands of his attorney and 1t still Is unsettled. This was the only instance, he said, where an architect outside of the gov- ernment service had been employed to draw plans for government hospi4 tals.
 John r. ORyan, counsl for the committee said his information had been that O'Brien never previously prepared for any large buildings but merely for some motion picture houses in San Francisco.
 Forbes Was Director
 The payment to the Los Angeles architect. General Homes said. took place while Charles R. Forbes still was director of the bureau The general then turned to his own ad- of bureau affairs and General O'Ryan remarked to the com mittee that there had been the clos est cooperation between himself and General Hines throughout the inves- tigation which he has made as coun- sell
 473 Men Getting Pay
 Questioned as to whether any en- ployes of the bureau received gov- ernment compensation for vocational training. Gneral Hines said that at one time 47S employees were drawing vocational training pay, but that this practice had been discontinued as he regarded 1t ss contrary to the law and intent of congress.
 Replying to further questions, the bureau director said there was evi- dence that the bureau in the past had been handicapped by political pres sure, especially from members of con gress, and particularly with respect to the location of vocational schools and hospitals. He declared however, that since he became head of the bureau when senators and representatives wrote to the bureau regarding cases they desired simply to ascertain the facts, and were not seeking to dis rupt the orderly consideration of claims.
 Comparatively Few Wounded
 General Hines testified that of the ,otal of 1S3,ooO disability claims al- owed, only 25 per cent resulted rom wounds in action. The remain ng 75 per cent grew out of diseases tnd injuries suffered outside the bat-s le zone.
 General O'Ryan told the commit ee that a number of doctors will estify that in many cases the disease or which disability claims have been tllowed cannot properly be traceable o military service.