The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-11-20
WAR STILL TAKES ITS
TOLL IN TIME OF PEACE
NDRED THOUSAND SOL
DIERS YET LOOKING TO u.
S. TO HELP THEM ALONG.
HAS PAID OUT VAST AMOUNTS
Government Has Spent Billions to
Cure or Compensate Ex-Service
Men Suffering Disability. Where
The Money Has Gone.

| Cure or Compensate Ex-Service
Men Suffering Disability. Where
The Money Has Gone.
What's Uncle Sam doing for the
disabled world war veterans?
Just now a special senate investi-
eating committee is engaged in look
ing into the affairs of the United
States Veterans Bureau, a federal
agency created tc look after the in
terests of the soldiers of Uncle Sam
who were wounded or gassed or suf-
fered from disease while in service.
1t cost Uncle Sam a lot of money
to wage war in Europe. 1t has cost
! him whole lot more since the war
ended, and it's going to cost him
much more during the next 10, Is and
70 years. Since Armistice day, in 1918,
the United States governmtnt has
spent $685., 009, APO for the disabled
ex-service men. Rather, that amount
should have been spent for the ex-
service man, but all of it wasn't so
spent,
For instance, the investigating COM
mittee, sitting in Washington, discov-
cred that $4,000 was paid a Califor-
mia architect for plans for hospital
that never was built. The committee
is investigating especially the admin
istration of Col. Charles w. Forbes,
the man who preceded Brig. Gen
Frank G. Hines, the present head of
the bureau. The soldier organizations,
such as the American Legion, have
faith in Hines. Forbes was fired by
the late President Harding.
Where the Money Goes.
What happened to the $1,000 quarts
of whiskey and the huge quantity of
narcotics and other supplies at the
hospital at Perryville, which was a
supply center, has figured continuous
ly in the testimony
How the generosity of the govern
ment was abused by dentists adver-
Using for the veterans to get their
teeth fixed, so they could send the bill
into the government, helped explain
how this country paid in one year
$6,000,000 for dentistry alone, is Just
an incident of the investigation.
Brig Gen Hines has issued a state
ment showing just how the taxpayers
money is being spent for the relief
of the soldiers of Uncle Sam who suf-
fered disability in the recent war. The
figures are interesting.
When the world war ended and the
troops of Uncle Sam came home the
crowds came out to applaud, the bands
played, the bunting tapped in the
breeze, and everybody wore a joyous
aspect.
1t wasn't many days before the sol
der who had gotten touch of gas
on the other side began to experience
queer feeling in his insides. He went
to the doctor and the doctor said he
was suffering from the effects of poi
son gas that they shot at each other
in Europe. The ex-service man then
asked Uncle Sam what he was going
to do about it.
Uncle Sam replied, "I'll treat you,
make you we'll again if that is posi-
bic, and in the meantime | will fit
you to take place in society and
support yourself and family if you
have any"
Helping Thousands.
Accordingly the veterans bureau
has established schools, made arrange
ments with colleges and universities
and employers of skilled 1abor-all to
the end that the disabled soldier might
receive training TO fit him to resume
place in society These have been
taken in charge, given medical treat
ment and professional, agricultural,
or industrial training.
This system of training is called
Vocational training To date 1876
ex-service men have completed their
vocational training and accepted jobs
and positions, the majority of which
have paid better than the jobs or po-
sitions of the men before they enter
ed the service. The veterans bureau
is sending 75,275 men through the
courses of training at the present time
Up to the present time this item alone
has cost the government the sum of
$478, 820,838.
While these men are training they
receive compensation to keep them
selves and families or dependent rel
atives.
Compensation Payments.
This item has cost the government
to date the sum of 514,426,233.
There are thousands of former sol
diers whose gas or shrapnel or high
explosive shell wounds, or whose
mental and nervous condition, results
of the war, demands that they be ta-
ken care of in a hospital The veterans
bureau has built hospitals in num-
Der of places throughout the country
In addition, many are kept in private
institutions. At present 10000 former
service men are in United States hos
pitals, and 6010 men are in private
| hospitals
This bill Of expense has run UP to
$193, 664,895, with $6,815,052 added for
hospital service given at the bureau
stations throughout the country.
When man is in the hospital his
| family or dependent relatives must be
taken care of. Uncle Sam has spent
$30O,985,952 for this purpose. During
the war almost every soldier was in
sured. The bureau of war risk was
special agency to take care of this
matter This bureau has since been
consolidated with the veterans bu-
reaue Insurance claims have cost the
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