The Washington times., 1923-11-13

l.
jailed for 1mplantlng kiss on
her stiff shoulder while she was
lying on the 0ste0patIrs table for
treatment. I'm through with
Osteopathy, after this I'll stick to
linfmeI1t," said Miss Huber.
know that there were record votes, :
said Forbes. There were many good
men on that board, but much time
was wasted In discussion
General Sawyer sent for employees
Of the Veterans Bureaus ct any time
and gave them orders what 70 do
Forbes told the COMMITTEES.
This led to protests from me to
General Sawyer" he commented.
Politicians Interfered.
Besides interference from General
Sawyer, was subjected to inside
and outside politics in selection OF
sites and construction work. The
inside gang, or those employed with.
in the bureau, worked with the
politicians outside the bureau. caus.
ing delay, inefficiency and emharras.
ment," said Forbes.
Colonel Forbes insisted he never
took action in the Veterans Bureau
without being advised by his staff
and the experts who had been
called in to give assistance. He
described his efforts to improve
conditions in the rehabilitation work
and his closing of firetrap buildings
where traiIfees were housed. He
criticised features of the Veterans
Bureau law and said many changes
were necessary to perfect them.
Text Of Statement.
The text OF Colonel Forbes, formal
statement follows:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen Of
the Committee:
When the. Senate resolution pro.
viding- for this investigation was
passed in the early days OF last
March, ] had just retired from the
office of Director Of the Veterans
Bureau. understood from the
language of the resolution that its
purpose was that this committee
should Investigate the conduct nf the
Veterans Bureau for the purpose Of
ascertaining the defects in the ad.
mfnistratioh Of the laws passed by
the Congress for the benefit Of ex.
service men, particularly for the re.
lief and benefit of disabled veterans.
80 that the committee might report
70 the next regular session Of Con.
gress recommendations for the i'm
proyement Of existing conditions,
E Il hoped at the time that the In.
Vestigation would proceed immedi-
ately, and my intention was to re.
main in Washington to assist the
committee by every means within my
power to ascertain the defects in
existing laws and administrative de.
6ctencies and the causes for such
deficiencies, and to remedy the
same. / hoped that might at that
early day lay before this committee
the manifold difficulties which beget
the director In carrying out the pro-
visions Of the very liberal laws which
the Congress- had enacted.
Left Hospital to Testify.
II was disappointed to learn that
the investigation would not proceed
immediately, and was cofnpeIletl
coast.
II heard nothing further concern.
ing the proposed Investigation until
recently, when through press re.
ports only, i became coEnizant Of
the TACT that the committee would
Degln It's hearings on or about the
zzd day or last month. In the mean.
IlIne, no request or suggestion had
ever come TO me from any source for
Information or for my assistance in
the work OF the committee.
promptly upon learning Of the
beginning of the sesaionsS left a
stck bed in q California hospital and
hurried across the continent 20 ten.
GER my services to this COMMITTEES :.
am sure that the committee can
wen understand my feelings, and
therefore understand what might
otherwise be considered an unwar.
ranted intrusion upon the proceed.
!ngs' when, upon my appearance
oetore the committee at it's first ses.
sion learned, as 1t appeared to me,
mat the Investigation was to take
the form OF q personal attack UP IN
me and my administration of the OF.
flee OF director Of the Veterans' Bu.
reau; and hope that the COMMITTEES
will therefore appreciate my intef.
ruptions and protests at that first
session.
Charges Conspiracy.
II feel that I cannot refrain from
expressing to the committee at this
time my growing belief, finally re.
sulting In conviction on my part,
which expect by the testimony
OF dtsinterested witnesses to estab.
Asn, that an attempt has been
naaae py my enemies to mislead
this committee and that q con.
spiracy has been on foot, the MIR.
pose OF which is to encompass INV
obstruction by means Of perjury
subordination Of perjury, attempted
subordination of perjury, and the
suppression Of material facts and
documents bearing not only upon
my personal conduct as director ~
! the Veterans Bureau but also uuon
the official conduct of the affair."
Of the bureau by myself and nv
eubordinatea.
= NNz-DuEpose In this prslInlnax