Evening star., 1923-03-13
CAPITAL KEYNOTES
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS

1t made little difference how much
wounded soldier suffered while
waiting for the endless red tape OF
the Veterans Bureau under the old
regime. but a mighty difference
whether that same veteran had put
his case into the hands Of a United
States senator or even a representa-
tive. This may seem to be a hack
neyed statement. but 1t takes on new
Significance when 1t becomes known
that senatorial pull" had become an
institution-almosta a corporation. To
such a degree Of development had 1t
risen that an official OF the Veterans
Bureau had been designated to occupy
room 112, Senate Office building,
where, with a corps of clerks, a regu-
lar business of handling and expe-
diting senatorial cases" was carried
or.
Legionnaires bitterly complain that
at the main offices of the bureau or
ders were to give immediate atten-
ton to any letters or complaints from
congressman. so that the key to the
whole bureau administration was not
merit of the claims of applicants, but
congressional pull" If a claimant
had no political pull his claim hung
fire or was rejected as mot of service
origin" What were battles in France
compared with battles upon Capitol
Hill, Washington?
X 4 y X
The Veterans Bureau, with it's 5000
employees, has instituted a method OF
its own as to medical practice with
Its employees. Absences on account
of sickness, the frequent breaking
down Of the health of trained help
| with consequent too heavy turn
over" are very costly. Hence DR.
Edwin Johnson of the industrial
tematic survey OF the health of all
Accurate records are kept Of all sick
nesseS and their causes traced and
treatment by the medical staff of the
bureau is compulsory. This includes
compulsory vaccination and pre-
ventive measures to guard against
prevailing sickness. such as influenza
typhoid fever and all contagious anc
malignant diseases.
There are restrooms in the build
receive care of the nurses daily
There is a thoroughly equipped hos.
pital, with d dispensary and chemica.
| laboratory.
The object Of maintaining this bu.
reau hospital service for the 5000 en-
increase in efficiency. 1t is not un-
common for factories and other busi-
Iness establishments where large mum.
bers OF men and women are employed
to maintain similar restrooms and
! hospitals.
Why, then. since the economic value
of preventive measures to protec,
thousands against disease is recog
nized as good business investment
lis it not instituted as d community
. nj
date. slipshod custom Of self-dias
nosis and eleventh-hour attendance
| by physician?
! Perhaps the first answer to that
| suggestion is that it could not be en-
forced by law. Every man and
woman must be left To choose his
own physician. Some are opposed te
any and all medical treatment
Granting the force of that objection
| iagainst compulsory community health
treatment, we might at least deveioI
4, health insurance companies, including
! full me dical treatment at all times. as
part OF the benefits of the policy
; This would introduce all the advan-
tages of the Chinese practice Of pay
| ing physicians only while well and
do away with self-diagnosis, cropping
| for the right specialist and postpon-
ing proper attention at the proper
! time 1t would 'standardize' medl-
cal care, eliminate quacks and give
dignity to the profession, which is
inow attained mainly by the outs hin :
ing successes among the doctors.
The policies might cover dentistry as
we'll as medicine, since many serious
sicknesses are traced directly to I'M
perfect or diseased teeth.
There exist health associations at
| ifording periodic examinations with
!out constant care. but that is all
1.-THE plan here suggested would give
complete yearly medical attention al
| a fixed premium.