New Britain herald., 1923-11-05
VETS REINSTATED
 ILLEGALLY, CLAIM
More Sensational, Charges in
 Bureau Investigation

Washington, Nov. 5.--Criticism il connection with the governments pur chase of the hospital site at Chelsea N. r., were declared to be unfounded in a report read today to the senate veterans committee. It had beer prepared by Louis W. Stotesbury former adjutant general of New York after what John F. O'Ryan. counse for the committee, declared as an ex. haustiye inquiry.
 Mir. stotesbury reported that thu site had been purchased from the Ed. Stromes corporation for $100,- GOO and that there had been no fraud or collision in connection with the sale. Much criticism has been based on the low figure for which the Stromes corporation had purchased the property, but Stotesbury reported the site formerly was owned by the late Dr. Charles K. Cole, who spent corporation. bought it at public auction at the ''very low" cost of S2S,5oo.
 Lack of Uniformity
 Lack of uniformity in the rating of veterans was described to the com mittee by Dr. David Q. Smith of the veterans bureau, who investigated such cases for General O'Ryan. He told of one case where a veteran had died of tuberculosis and diabetes within one and one-half months after medical officers of the bureau had re- ported that the tuberculosis had been arrested and the patients rating had been reduced from total permanent disability to a 25 per cent. disability. A review of the case was made. pr. Smith said, and a final finding approv- ing the 25 per cent. Rating was re- turned seven weeks after the veteran had died.
 Doctor Is Disabled.
 Dr, Smith said also that Dr. Bal lard, who is employed in the veterans bureau and who made the review in question, himself has a disability rat ing of 8 per cent. on the basis Of an operation performed while in the service. Dr. 3allards rating origin ally was e5 per cent, the witness said, but was increased when he appealed.
 Senator oddie, republican. Nevada, asked how it was Dr. Ballard had a greed with pr. Rogers, medical director of the bureau, in the case of tho tubercular patients.
 Tn n bureau of this kind" Dr. Smith replied. "mcn arc selected not so much for ability as for their CO., hesive qualities. They stick to- gethor."
 pr. smith added that tho report on the tnbereular case "maniTestly was an effort to clear Dr, Rogers skirts in the original finding.
 Senators wanted to know If pr. | Rogers fixed pr. Ballard's rating and Dr. Smith said he had made the 
 Insurance Violations.
 To support his conclusion that in- surance policies have been rcinstated | not only on insufficient evidence, but | In violation Of the law, Dr. Smith titcJ the case of a regular army offi- ger who died recently of cancer. This officer notified the bureau he. woud not continue his policy for no. 900, but a year later after cancer lad developed, he asked for rein- statement. He meantime had been ,erying on active duty.
 The witness said the officer had influential friends" The policy was he declared, as of date jredating that on which the officer ,ecame totally and permanently dis bled. After his death payments on t.. .xtta., atn~, i.fov, h,,t barH hnen topped as a result of investigation. Chairman Reed wanted to know yho approved the reinstatement, and Dr. Smith said the memorandum ore the initials Of the assistant ircctor Of the insurance division, rhose name was not stated to the ommittee. He added that a report ad como in the name of Director rank T. Hines that the initials of .haries R. Forbes, former director, i, ere on the memorandum, but that Z c personally had been unable to ientify the initials as those of orbcs.
 Rehabilitation Work. Discussing the irregularities in the , work, Dr. Smith told Of he case of one veteran having a ,ntagious disease who was placed in market in Baltimore selling fruit , the public. This was after the steran had refused to go on with is rehabilitation work of raising 1ickens because he had to care for , lem on Sundays.
 X ripple of laughter ran around ie committee room as pr. Smith Id of tho case of a former prize inter, who is being rehabiiitated as salesman in gents and ladies fur ( shinrs." The veteran claimed he = as suffering from neurasthcnia, and h as united for his pre-war work. V fter he got in the clothing store, b ,vever, he went into training and c st a couple of fights. The rehabiii- ton committee accepted these de- te ats as proof of his claim of unfit Il 'ss. st "Did he always win before the st sr?" asked Senator Reed. fl, T have no record on that" Dr. e nifh replied. u