Evening star., 1924-01-07
''Neither Able Nor Honor
able," Says Report on
Former Bureau Director.
DISHONESTY ALLEGED
IN HOSPITAL BUILDING
Record Stirs Rage and Shame
Among All Ex-Soldiers,
General Declares.
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The outstanding cause of unsatis-
factory conditions" in the Veterans
Bureau. which led to investigation by
n special Senate committee, was it's
leadership during the incumbency OF
Col. Charles r. Forbes" the Senate
committee will be told when it meets
the latter part OF this week, in a re-
port of more than 10000 words by
the committee counsel, Maj. Gen. John
+. Organ of New York.
This report lays terrific Indictment
against Forbes, declaring. in effect.
that he not only failed In a sacred
trust, but that he was a participant
in a conspiracy to defraud the gov
ernment
The report of the committee will
not differ materially from the report
OF its counsel, 1t is believed by those
in closest touch with the investiga-
tion, which has covered nine months.
with q volunteer corps Of fnvestiga
tors, including 500 lawyers, $50 doc
tors and 200 special experts assisting
the committee.
Indictment of Forbes.
The Indictment against Forbes in the
Organ report says: while many Of
the shortcomings of the government
can be traced to novelty and the magni-
tude OF the undertaking and to haste
in early development and to ine1peri-
ence or inadaptability Of personnel. the
outstanding cause of the unsatisfactory
conditions existing In February, 1928,
and which led to this investigation. Is to
be found in the leadership OF the bureau
during the incumbency of Charles r.
rhAC NIB faI yhn krin frnv
April %. 1921, to February IS. 1929"
The report Is extremely sensational
throughout, Gen. Organ going fear
lessly into the dishonesty and neglect"
discovered. and placing responsibility
without qualification where. in his opin-
ion, it belongs. 1t mentions many cases
Of alleged corruption. OF hospital sites
purchased for much more than their
contractors, of footing and many
other abuses.
One very important recommends
tion made by Gen. O'Ryan is based
upon his criticism that the Veterans
Bureau relies too much on records and
not enough upon the personal story
and appearance of the veteran In
passing on compensation claims.
Board OF Appeals.
He shows that ordinarily the claim
ant meets contact officer, who helps
him fill out his claim, and a medical
officer, who gives him a physical ex-
animation. After that his case is
passed upon by officials who see only
reports. Gen. Organ would abolish
the district boards OF appeals and
have the veteran appear before a
board consisting of the medical Of
ficer the rating officer and the con-
tact officer and possibly vocational
training officer and local business
man. Either the veteran or the other
members Of the board or all could ap-
peal to a central board OF appeals at
Washington from the decision Of the
rating officer under the Organ plan.
This is only one of a number of
constructive suggestions for further
improvement made by Gen. O'Ryan
after reciting an impressive list Of re-
forms already accomplished. many of
them through the : cooperation of
Gen. Frank T. Hines, the present d.
rector of the bureau.
With the bluntness Of a soldier the
precision OF a surgeon and the skill
of an attorney, Gen. Organ in his
report tells of the many problems
considered during the investigation
by the special committee, consisting
of Senators Reed of Pennsylvania,
Oddie of Nebraska and Walsh of Mas
sachusetts.
The circumstances surrounding the
sale of Veterans Bureau supplies at
Perryville, Md, by the then Director
Forbes to the Thompson-Kelly Com
(Continued on Page 2. Column Al