Evening star., 1924-01-08
FEWER EMPLOYEES,
LESS LAWS URGED
IN VETERAN BUREAU

Continued from First Page)
bureau should be divorced from the
medical section and placed in the
claims section.
Relief measures should be decen-
traliZed as much as possible.
Salaries of those holding responsible
positions in the bureau should be
greatly increased. Important positions
should be outside civil service.
Reduction I'm Personnel.
During the past several months
1000 have been dropped from the
personnel of the bureau; 1000 more
should be dropped within the next
Few months. Personnel in district
offices is excessive. Saving would
make it possible to increase direc-
tors salary. now $4,000, and pro-
vide him with six competent as
sistants at $4,000 each annually.
Great abuse exists in excessive
hospitalizatioN: wide leniency in al
rowing men with no ailment to re-
main in hospitals; allowances made
courage them to remain I'm hospital;
desire to maintain ratio between
doctors and patients may explain
this leniency.
Director Hines, visiting the Speed
way Hospital, Chicago. one night.
found s5 per cent of the patient per-
sonnel out OFF the buildings and out of
the grounds. He closed the institu-
tion.
Effective inspection would reduce
hospital overhead. At hospital for
tuberculosis patients in South Caro-
lima, one-third were found not suffer
ing from the disease; at another hos
pital In Kentucky 25 of II were
nj
Need of Discipline.
Ground for criticism that employees
of bureau frequently lack sympathy
in dealing with claimants; higher
standard of discipline needed to cor
rect this; should be effective systems
of rewards and punishment for bu-
reau employees; delinquent employees
now are usually transferred, not dis
charged.
There is too much duplication of
work now in the central office at
Washington, and this is one reason
why there Is delay and often made
quate answers in consideration of
claims: veterans required to produce
more proof should be told just what
is required: another cause of delay
Is submissiveness OF some employees
to political influence, leading them to
cases
Present system of passing upon
veterans claim by means of records
after his physical examination denies
veteran his day in court.
Livermore Site Scandal.
Case of hospital site at Livermore,
Calf Site acquired February 16,
1922; no hospital yet erected; this
because Col. Forbes hired local archi-
tect to give him a job, but architects
plans never accepted, although they
cost government about 100000.
government paid $4,000 FOR site ap-
praised at $4,000; hospital built
! without kitchen: interest of govern
ment and disabled veterans pros
tftuted in order that high govern
ment official. Ewing Laporte, a for
Treausry, might generously satisfy
demands of prominent political
leader"-E. L. Morse--"whose in
terest was obviously selfish"
There are about $500 vacant beds
in government hospitals now, but
some patients are in temporary hos
pitals; 40 per cent of men now in
hospitals don't need such treatment.
but can't make a living because Of
disabilities and should be placed in
probably be unpopular. When hos
pital projects now being built are fin
|, ished there will be more beds than
needed except for those suffering
from mental diseases; peak of hos
pitalization has passed: contract hos
pitfalls should be used only in case of
emergency.
Medical Inefhciency.
Medical service of Veterans
Bureau, at present a makeshift, and
as q whole inefficient because there
is no opportunity for professional
advancement no permanent status,
no fixed system or promotion or re-
tirement, lack Of pleasant relations
between physicians and patients,
political interference by non-medical
persons, political influence in getting
doctors appointed to district Offices
and poor salaries. Morale is lacking
and how to improve this situation
should be subject Of investigation
by board of medical experts ap-
pointed by the President.
On November Is, 1928. there were
22,947 veterans in hospitals. 9,402
suffering from tuberculosis, 9,402
suffering from mental disease and
4,163 general cases. Still greater
segregation needed.
Compensation I'm U. 8.
Compensation paid by this country
to veterans Is more generous than
that paid by Great Britain, France,
Belgium and Italy; but there should
be more generous interpretations
here Of intent of Congress to base
partial disability on loss of earning