Evening star., 1923-11-07

4 demand that all the facts in con-
nection with the alleged abuses in
the Veterans Bureau be disclosed is
the country. The allegations of graft
and incompetency must be fully
cleared up. 1t is ihsisted. and If there
was any violation of law those re-
sponsible should be sent to prison.
at is a. sorry thing to have such
a department as this under fire SO
early In It's existence" says the Bos-
ton Post, but. facts being as they
are, the light cannot be turned on
any too soon" Every "citizen wants
the facts" the Worcester Gazette is
convinced. "and the probe should go
too deep to leave any uncertainty.
II 1t confirms the bureaus claim that
everything possible is being done for
those veterans who still need mental
and physical rehabilitation it will
ease public misgivings." When it is
recalled that during the past year
"the government spent the enormous
sum OF S467.000.000. and yet criticism
has been rife, the veteran unhappy
and the citizen suspicious" the New
Haven JourHal-Ceurier feels only
complete publicity Will serve to re-
store confidence. And in securing it
the Senate committee will, the New
York Tribune holds. "help greatly in
putting soldier relief and rehabillta-
ton on a sound basis and Gen. Hines
will have public opinion behind him
in lifting the bureau to the highest
possible level"
x * \: r
The Lafayette Journal-Courier feels
"unwise policies persist against the
urgent counsel of experts because of
the selfish and unreasoning fnsistence
Of local politicians" and this can be
remedied should the probe be thorough
in it's character. While "investiga-
tions usually are a deluston and a
snare" as the Baltimore Evening Sun
sees the situation, "if there can be
such a thing as an honest fnvestiga-
ton the Veterans Bureau Is ripe for
It. The veterans have a right TO know
what Is being done with the money
that has been appropriated for their
benefit, and certainly the bfll-payihg
public Is entitled to an accounting
Of the bureaus Stewardship. IL an
investigation does no more tnan eSe
plain the preposterous expenditure OF
&c. .OOO,0 in one year for dentistry II
will be worth while" The Cincinnati
Commercial Tribune considers it re
markable that ground sufficiently
substantial to support charges of
Gross irregularities can have existed
and not have had official detection.
Secondary, it is almost beyond belief
that this sort of prostitution 10 sor-
dtdness and selhsfhess can have ehar-
acterized any one or several haVins
in charge any phase or feature of the
work Of ministering to the broken
men. sacrifices to the saving of the
country. One thing is Imperative.
There should be no pause this time
until the bottom Is reached and the
truth wholly revealed. ~,
This is also the opinion OF the Chi
caeo Daily News, which insists IN 9
"committee must place responsibility
for Irregularities and abuses where 1t
belongs, but even more important
than exposure and fitting punishment
the laws of the country and the well
fare Of disabled ex- x-sefviee men 10 ef-
fective prevention in the future of
maladministration and waste" This
especially is necessary, the Indianap-
oils News adds, because the manage
ment of the bureau has been marked
by the grossest inefficiency. careless
ness and indifference to the public g
opinion that the country should do
everything petsibls for the men
expected, II the. committee does its
duty, to bring out facts 20 show wide-
spread distress among disabled men.
cruelty under the guise of bureau
economy" 1t is the opinion OF the
New York Evening World that "the
denee ALREADY before IL. senatorial
courtesy does not cover misuse OF
political influence. The Senate must
also Investigate itself, The Veterans
BureGu mas left q Shiny trail. 1t IS
the last place where politics should