Evening star., 1923-03-20

CONTINUED from First Page)
between the years 1917-1923. inclu-
sive. will be evident from the follow
, ing statement. 1t would be beyond
the province OF this report to analyze
what has been accomplished out OF
, these appropriations and what Is left
to the government of permanent
character. OF necessity a great deal
OF the money was spent for tenn
porary hospitals established during
the war which had to be abandoned.
On the other hand. il the Cniteo
states government had had federal
plan Tor It's hospital work, probably
much that was otherwise wasted
could have been preserved as perma-
nent institutions for use in the situa-
ton that confronts the country to-
day"
Then follows long detailed list Of
appropriations. as compiled in the Of
nee OF the division OF bookkeeping
vember 2. 1922. The total Is s3I6,-
90,144S2.
sharp Dfsagreements Revealed.
Sharp disagreemets between the
White committee and the Veterans
Bureau, which arose over certain
problems in which both were con-
cerned. are officially revealed for the
first time IN the report. These dis
agreements arose. It is explained,
through the transfer OF enormous
amounts Of supplies from the Army
and public health service to the Vet
erans Bureau. and some Of which
were needed for equipment Of the
hospitals being built by the White
committee, eventually to be managed
ha vrf
Bureau.
Matters had been running smooth
~ enough so long as the public
surplus supplies, 1t is revealed The
consultants forged rapidly ahead on
that basis. and shipments Of supplies
from surplus stores were sent 10
those institutions which were ready
OF the executive order. however
transferring all surplus supplies from
the public health service TO the Vet
erans Bureau, disagreement arose
with the latter bureau on the in
terpretation OF the following part of
the law. Here followed an extensive
quotation from the act.
Refused Use OF SuppIies
The Veterans Bureau" the re-
port charges. refused the Treasury
the use Of surplus supplies. and for
weeks II was impossible to draw sup
plies for equipment. The consultants
were faced with the problem of pur-
chasing complete equipment for the
Treasury hospitals, irrespective Of
the government possession Of supplies
for this purpose.
What constituted an equipped hos
pital was so variously INTERPRETED
that for time no agreement could
be reached. The inclusion in the bill of
such words as 'trackage facilities
equipment and Accessories led to a
narrow Interpretation which was
placed on the word equipment by
the officers OF the Yeterans' Bureau.
Ter general ruled that the Secretary
must decide. and SO the consultants
were forced to adopt an arbitrary
standard on which to proceed. Allot-
ments were finally made to the bu-
reau of supply to provide the equip
Inent on a standard basis for the COM
pletion of the hospitals. While these
standards of equipment are not likely
TO please all. the consultants feel sure
that for each institution built by the
Treasury Department adequate and
satisfactory equipment has been pro-
vided."
Controversy Brought to End.
Bureau was finally brought to an end,
through the cooperation Of the federal
board of disqualification. This board.
and especially Brig. Gen. Charles E.
Sawyer, the chief co-ordinator." says
the report, "were Of the greatest assist
apce in finally securing the available
equipment and shipping 1t to the vari-
GUS institutions, thus facilitating the
work Of this department"
The federal plan. proposed by the
committee as preventive against fu-
ture crises in the hospital situation of
the nation provides for the entire prob
lem to be centered in one federal Office.
Personnel OF Committee.
The White committee consists of
body Of eminent leaders Of the medical
profession who gave their services to
the government. DR.. White Of Pitts
burgh, Is chairman of the committee,
the other members of which are DR..
Frank Billings Of Chicago; Dr. John G.
Bowman Of Pittsburgh, and DIR. George
H. Kirby of New York city.
1ElMEI ed lc nNgnDnrn