Evening star., 1923-11-21
VET BUREAU PROBE
REPORT BY DEC. Il
Only Fragment of Abuses
Disclosed to Public, Organ
Tells Committee.

With the public hearings virtually
ended, counsel for the Senate vet
erans' committee began today the
task of shaping up for the considera-
tion of the committeeman the vast
volume of Information gathered In
the investigation of the activities OF
the Veterans Bureau. Put under way
last March, the inquiry was conduct
ed simultaneously in practically every
state in the Union. and eliminated In
public charges of corruption, waste.
debauchery and intrigue.
With the closing Of the public ses-
sions. John F. Organ of New York
city. general counsel. told the COM
mittee last night that what has been
presented publicly CONSTITUTES but
fragment of what has been developed,
both in relation to the neglect of the
disabled and to corruption and waste
in the bureau"
Rush Work on Report.
The information collected both in
the central office and in the field will
be considered by the committee at
three weeks There also will be con-
ferences with officials of the bureau
for further study of ways and means
of bettering the service to the world
war veterans, but despite the enor-
nous task ahead Of 1t the committee
hopes to have it's report ready for the
Senate by December Is.
There probably will be several
public sessions for the admission TO
the record Of reports and other data.
and II NAV be that Mrs. Katherine
Mortimer of Philadelphia VIII be
heard at one Of these in response TO
her request that she be given pub
lie hearing for discussion of the tes-
timony of her husband, Elias H. Nor
timer. principal witness against TOT,
her uncle and aunt. Mr.. and Mrs. j.
NJ. Williams of Philadelphia.
The committee will not pass upon
her request until next week. but IT
has decided to comply with her wish
that her testimony at a private ses-
sion Of the committee txo weeks ago
be made public. The date of its pub
lication, however, remains to be de-
termined.
- Aided by Volunteers.
In its investigation the committee
has been assisted by a volunteer field
organization Of more than 1000 per-
sons, including doctors, lawyers. busi-
ness men and former service men,
which was built up by Gen. Organ.
Commenting upon the work of this
organization, Gen. Organ, in his
closing statement to the committee,
declared that the reports Of these men
can be relied upon both as to accu-
racy and disfnterestedness."
IAN unusual feature of this inves-
tigation," Gen. Organ added, lis the
practice that has obtained by which
the present director. Frank T. Hines,
and counsel held weekly conferences
relating to matters developed in the
course of the investigation. 1t was
in the interest of the disabled and the
government that as soon as possible
abuses should be corrected without
awaiting the formal report of the
committee. BY this cooperation, sup
plemented by the vigorous action of
Gen. Hines. a great many practices
and abb ses have been corrected dur
ing the past five months.
No Politics in Probe.
"At the outset of this investigation
consideration would affect the inves-
tigation and that / might have free
rein to prosecute it vigorously and
without regard to persons and inter
ests. That assurance has been made
good 100 per cent"
Chairman Reed, in responding. de-
clared that "the committee, the Con
gress and the country at large ought
to feel very grateful to these men
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