The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1923-11-21
sORD|D STORY OF
VETERANS BUREAU
-
SENATE INQUIRY BRINGS OUT
FACTS THAT. SHOCK AND DIS
GUST THE NATION.
HEROES PREY OF GREED
By EDWARD 3. A

Washington has been aghast ut the
nature of the testimony presented III
the course of the investigation into the
charges of maladministration OF the
veterans bureau under its former Il
agement.
1t has been a sordid story from the
beginning. The charges are OF grant
at the expense not only of the taxpay-
err but of the health of the men wound
ed in war, or stricken by sickness IN
the field. Charges have been maze
not only of theft, but of a callouS
heartlessness which is sickening to any
one who has had a remnant of faith
in the kindness of human nature.
Some of the charges directed against
chief individuals may be untrue. Inc
hope Is that they are. Apparently the
only basis for hope, however, that GER
tain officials have been wronged by
the voluntary Testimony in the case
is the fact that the testifiers in telling
of the blackness Of others have con-
fessed their own blackness.
1t Is known, however, that even II
the theft in graft form has not been
committed, there has been proof ad-
duced of the preparation of that crime
of politics which considers the appoint
ment Of favorites to place to the ex-
clusiOn Of consideration of the dictates
of humanity.
Was Misused by Politicians.
T.. 1o++or. On an ooaocions in tha
earlier days of the administration OF
the veterans bureau, attention was
called to the charges of the veteran
organizations that unfit men were be-
ing appointed to office; that schemes
were being proposed and put into oper-
alton supposedly for the benefit of the
veterans, but which, the strong sus-
picion was, were for the benefit of the
promoters. The evidence in the case
as adduced now, many months after
ward, tends to show that the accusa-
tons of the past probably were well
founded.
The politicians looked upon the vet
Grams bureau when it was established
as a fine, open receptacle for such of
their henchmen as could not be placed
elsewhere. The politicians, until the
advent of Gen. Frank T. Hines as d.
rector, contin ed to hold the bureau as
one into whose receptacles 1t was easy
to drop their valuabIes In the shape of
men whose influence would be service
able in the time of election need.
When the appointment-of the pre-
decessor Of General Hines in h vet
Grams bureau was made. comparative
" little was known of his record for
efficiency. 1t is known, however, that
the appointing power thought that the
appointee was forcible and that he
would be effective in the administra-
tion of his duties. When the final an
gwer comes as a result of the present
senate Investigation, it will be known
how grave a mistake was made in the
appointing powers judgment of the
qualities of the appointec.
Harding Started the Reform.
The president who appointed Col.
Charles r. Forbes to office lived to see
mis- departure from the office and lived
also to appoint the present director,
General Hines. Washington knew that
President Harding had learned of con-
ditions as they were said to exist in
the bureau and that he was determined
TO effect a reform. He chose a sue
cessor to the former director only after
due study and elaboration.
The veterans bureau has passed
through a storm stage. 1t came near
being wrecked. 1t looks today as if
the people of the United States had
paid out millions upon millions of dol
lars that ought not to have been paid,
and it looks also as If The charges of
neglect of the wounded and sick vet
Grams were we'll founded. The whole
thing as LOOKED back upon appears to
the officials of the government as some
thing in~conceivable In it's merciless
greed.
Out of bad sometimes comes good.
The very %rottenness of former condi-
tions in the veterans bureau, it is be-
lieved here, may stir the American
neonle to protest against the action of
congressmen and other influential ones
IN nutting their personal and political
oood before the good of the men who
fought for their country In France.
II seems certain now that the dis
closures which already have been made
will prevent in future such crimes as
the appointment of men at high sal
aries to jobs which they cannot fill,
and the accompanying appointments of
mon at smaller salaries TO do the work
of the pampered fayorites of the poll
ticians.
If, as the result of the present SEN
ate Investigation, politics can be ripped
out of the big building on Vermont
avenue the money that has been vast
cd will have been well wasted.
No Profiteerirg in Our Next War.
Col. Dwight f. Davis, through an
address to the Reserve Officers asso-
citation. nine-tenths Of whose members
served in the great war, has just made
the following definite statement to the
American people:
"There will be no slackers and no
nrofiteers If we are yer again forced
into war"
The War department for a long time
has been studying the great problem