The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-13
FORBES TAXES STAND IN H|S OWN BEHALF
Graft In Awarding Of Hos- pital Contracts And Use Of Political Influences Is AL legged At Hearing Monday FORMER HEAD OF VETS BUREAU TO DENY CHARGES Lieutenant Commander Says General Sawyer Did Not Stop Shipments Of Material From Bureau Depot

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12.-The Sen ate Investigating committee cleared the decks today for the appearance before it tomorrow of Charles R. Forbes, former director of the veter- ans bureau, who has been the center of fire in the inquiry. Forbes is to take the stand the first thing in the morning.
 Besides appearing in his own be- half. the former director plans to call army and navy officers who will be testimony which has been given with regard to the awarding of contracts for veterans hospitals
 Inquiry by the committee today was directed largely to the opera tions of the medical division. Dr. l.. B. Rogers. director of that division, was the witness and he stated there had been great abuses in the use of the contract hospitals, net only with respect to charges made 10 the gov ernment, but also in the matter of the care of the veterans and the food served to them.
 Political Influenced Used.
 Senator Walsh. democrat, Massa- chusetts, developed that in some in- stances political influence has been used to keep contract hospitals in operation after examination by bureau officials has shown them to be un- satisfactory.
 Dr. Rogers could give little infor- nation as to alleged abuses in the matter of the appointment of guar dians for mentally incompetent vet erans, but Senator Reed, republican, Pennsylvania, chairman of the com milf is paid out annually to such guar dians without proper safeguards as to it's disposition.
 Senator Reed was inststent as to why there has not been readjustment of ratings of disabled men which, he said. in some cases work to the dis advantage of the government and in many more to the disadvantage of the veterans. Referring to the rec concentrations of a former Senate in- vestigating committee on this sub ject, Senator Reed declared 1t was useless for Congress to have commit tees inquire into this matter if the recommendations Of such committees are not followed
 pr. Rogers replied that the rating schedule is now under revision. Denies Sswyers' Story.
 Recalled at his own request. Lieut.. Gov Charles R. O'Leary, U. s. N. for mer director of the division of supply of the veterans bureau, contradict the testimony of Orig. Gen. Charles E. Sawyer. that 1t was Dr. Sawyer who stopped the shipments of prop erty from Perryville, Md
 Commander O'l.eary said that when Dr. Sawyer arrived at Perryville O'Leary had in his hand telegram instructing- him to stop the ship ments and that he was on his way to SC the officer in charge to give the necessary instructions.
 Who signed that telegramg' ask ed Senator Reed on behalf of counsel for Forbes.
 Charles R. Forbes" was the re- ply.
 It was testified to by O'Leary that the Perryville sale of supplies was investigated by a committee of of- ficials of the veterans bureau ap- pointed by George E. Hams, the act- ing director. after the departure or Forbes for Europe.
 John r. O'Ryan, general counsel for the committee. said he never hao heard of such investigation.