The Washington times., 1923-11-13

statement, which will be followed
by a detailed examination by my
counsel, to be followed in turn by
cross-examination by members Of
this committee and its counsel, is
to enter q general, sweeping, and
absolute denial Of every charge,
statement, innuendo and insinua-
ton which In any manner whats0.
ever reflects upon the honesty and
integrity Of my official or personal
conduct while occupied the office
of director Of War Risk Insurance
or director Of the Veterans Bureau.
Denies All Misconduct.
II now deny generally, and shall
hereafter deny specifically and in
detail, the utterly false and ground.
less charges OF official and personal
neglect, dishonesty, graft, liquor
drinking. loose conduct, and any
and every other derelietion of duty,
official or personal, which has been
ascribed to me either by the wit
nesses Mortimer and Williams and
others, or Charged against me by
the counsel Of. this committee.
II do not mean that my admins.
tration was blameless; do not deny
It's imperfections; do not seek to
shift any responsibilities to others,
dead or alive: but do assert that
have not consciously been guilty
Of any wrong-dOing either by act or
neglect.
sIf, during the course Of my
testimony, in response TO examine.
ton by my counsel. there should
inadvertently, on account OF the
great volume Of this testimony, be
any occasion In my testimony re.
lating to my official or personal
conduct while director Of the Vet
erans' Bureau, / earnestly request
that the members Of this committee
BIZ themselves or through th9ir cOun-
sci shall interrOsate me most
searchifiKly az to all matters within
the scope Of the investigation and
Of the testimony heretofore given
and which myself shall give.
Sought Ship Board Post.
ST feel 1t only proper to state
that did not seek this position.
I am frank to say that while I
have never been particularly active
as q politician, although always a
Republican, yet when the present
Administrators came into office /
was ambitious, on account of my
experience. to become a member
Of the Shipping Board: which am
bition I communicated to the late
President, who had been my politi.
cal and personal friend for many
years.
President Harding frankly ad,
vised me that It was impossible for
him to crafty my ambition; and
he ultimately rendered to me the
position Of DirecaSP Of War Risk
Insurance. accepted the position
with much misgiving, especially
after an Interview with Colonel
ChoEnley-Jones, my predecessor, and
with the expressed desire on my
part that I might retire from the
office at the end of q year.
When first met Col. Chonley.
Jones he said to me: Colonel
Forbes, you are coming into q Job
which will bring you only grief
and sorrow. have done every.
thing within my power to build
up this institution and make II
really worth while. 1t is politically
stagnant and do not believe that
you or any other man will ever
be able to put 1t over After some
conversation he added: You will
find your first difficulty, / believe.
in the Public Health Service II
was not long before I realized that
Col. ChOmley-Jones had spoken the
truth.
IT cannot refrain at this time
from expressing. as q result OF the
knowledge which acquired Of the
work Of Col. Chomley.Jones, INV
admiration of his work and of his
high character, and of my belief
that he sacrificed his life In tho
vain effort to carry into effect the
desires of the people of this coun.
try and Of the Congress Of the
United States to afford every pos.
sible relief to the disabled ex-servtce
man.
'.1mmsdiaAaly upen OsEuuuina a.