Evening star., 1924-01-07
GRAFT, CONSPIRACY,
WASTE CHARGED TO
FORBES BY O'RYAN

FORBES BY O'RYAN
CONTINUED from First Page1
pany of Boston caused this transac-
tion to resemble more the work of
buccaneers In the locting and scut-
Ting OF ship than the mere negli-
gence of trusted government OIL
cials, the ORyan report declares.
Instance of FavorItism.
AS an illustration Of how favorit-
ism In contract letting, as uncovered
by the Investigation. caused serious
delay in providing hospital facilities
for the disabled" tho Organ report
points to persistent efforts by Forbes
to give the contract for the building
OF a 5eo-bed hospital for nervous and
mental cases at Northampton. Mass.
to company he favored.
dishonesty and neglect in man
esement" Ia thus discussed in the
Organ report: b-
The above heading opens up a
very disagreeable chapter in the his
tory OF the Veterans Bureau. 40
American can read il without feeling
or disgust for the manner I'm which
the great work Of aiding the disabled
was prostitutsd for self-agsrandize-
ment and greed. No soldier familiar
with the clean and splendid respon-
siveness of the American troops in
battle can consider 1t without feelings
OF rage and shame that the disabled
among them should have been so
callously exploited.
Our preparedness for the relief
for battle"
Work OF "VuItures..
1T was expected that human vul-
lures would seek profit and graft
when the great task of preparing to
aid the disabled was started, Gen.
ORyan points out because this
cancerous element is in every great
population" but he argues that this
was all the more reason for integrity
and ability in the management of this
great humanitarian work. Here 10
what really existed under Director
Forbes, the ORyan report says:
and misconduct, lack OF high purpose
and disregard Of official obligation.
What followed was to be expected"
There was experience to draw on
when Forbes assumed office. Ger:
organising and beginning govern
been going on for two years.
AN able and industrious man."
inaugurated radical and effective re-
forms. Col. Forbes was neither able
nor honorable. The evidence Is not
only convincing, but no other con-
clusion can be reached"
Gen. Organ asks the committee to
tendency to cure ills by legislation,
which, he says, cannot supply char
acter." Regardless of laws, the Feter-
ans Bureau could not have func-
toned successfully under Forbes.
Organ insists.
Holds Move Criminal.
Criminal" is the term applied by
Gen. ORyan in his report to the
transaction at the Veterans Bureaus
supply depot at Perryville. Nd,
where he finds that about $4,000. 900
worth OF goods, including many new
packages. were sold to a Boston arm
for 20 cents on the dollar. He de-
clares this showed criminal nesli-
gence."
It was this transaction that led to
the forced resignation of Forbes
when he failed to comply. with orders
from tho late President Harding to
stcR sales to the Boston to SeiaSe eompany
the transaction was the result. OF
other than conspiracy to defraud the
government" Gen. O'Ryan says, with
out mentioning any names In this
connection, although in continuing
he says in effect:
That the character OF Forbes.
the previous record OF Commander
O'Leary, then in charge OF the supply
section of the bureau: the practically
secret sale; the padded inventory OF
the property. to be sold: the speed
so ix-Ac ~ "a
contractors loaded on cars property
not included in the sale ana also new
ly purchased property just arriving;
the attempt to deceive President
Harding and the inisreprese
to the public health service, which
property-these and other circun-
stances, says O'Ryan, cause this
transaction TO resemble the work OF
buccaneers"
Cost Of Hospitals.
administration averaged a cost OF
$3,s57 a bed, as compared with an
average cost of 32,972 per bed. or
1886 less before the Forbes regime.
and during a period when the work
Of building hospitals was under the
tect of the Treasury Department, the
Organ report shows.
Hospital construction under Forbes,
Gen. Organ finds, was delayed IN
part by the desire Of Forbes to award
construction contracts to Favored
contractors, and speed was made the
excuse for Irregular awards. The
Northampton Hospital mentioned
above is cited as an example. The
story Of that transaction fs told IN
the O'Ryan report, and the Following
Is q summary:
Elias II. Mortimer of Philjadelphia
testified before the committee that he
was Washington representative OF j.
W. Thompson and J. W. Black, who
controlled building construction COM
panies in St. Louis, Chicago and
Michigan; that he ). became very
friendly with Forbes. accompanied
him on inspection trips. paid some OF
his hotel bills and loaned him money,
and that he, obtained In return ad-
vance information on the plans Of the
bureau OF building hospitals and an
understanding that his clients
Thompson and Black, would get the
Northampton hospital Job.
ut is impossible to believe Forhes
conduct was the result OF guileless-
ness-that 1t was other than secret
though effective participation In their
plans" says Organ Of the associa-
tion of Forbes with Mortimer, Thomp-
son. Black and Hurley. president Of Q
Pacific coast construction company
for which Forbes was working when
appointed to the vetsrans' Bureau.
n- ~ h. a xtv>r&l 1aA 80