Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-08
BAN ON SALE Arms
TO MEXICAN REBELS
SAYS CORRUPTION
REiCNED IN BUREAU
UNDER LEAD FORBES

Washington, Jan. I. (By A. P)-
Fraud and corruption existed In the
Veterans Bureau under the director
ship of Charles r. Forbes. John F. o.
Ryan, Of New York, general counsel
for the senate veterans committee,
asserts in a report filed with the
committee.
Moreover, Organ charges that
Forbes himself was a leading factor
in an established conspiracy to de-
fraud the government on hospital
contracts and he names as other par
ties to the alleged conspiracy c. b.
Hurley, president of the Hurley Ma
son Company. of Tacoma, Washing
ton; J. W. Thompson. a st. Louis
contractor; the late James w. Black.
of Chicago, and Elias ii. Mortimer. OF
Philadelphia, the chief witness in the
committees public hearings.
Ewing Laporte, of Pittsburgh, Pa,
an assistant secretary of the treas
ury in the Wilson administration and
| +. J.. Morse. prominent i'll Missouri
Republican policies. are assailed In
connection with the purchase of
! Morse's homestead at Excelsior
| Springs, Missouri, for a hospital at
| 100000 Organ charges that This
project was forced upon the public
health service by the joint action OF
Laporte and Morse.
Characterizing as "criminaT the
sale Of bureau supplies from the
Perryvil,e. Maryland. supply. depot to
ynl1
Boston, Organ attacks Forbes and
| Lieutenant Commander Charles r.
| O'Leary, L. S. ", in connection with
| the sale. Commander O'Leary at the
| time was in charge of the supply di-
! vision of the Veterans Bureau.
! Organ charged that fraud was
| committed in connection with the
sale of the Livermore. Calf. hospital
! site to the government by Lucien H.
| johnson and asserts that Johnson
! Sworn testimony as to the disposal
of the profits was brazen in its OBJ
yious insincerity.
! "AN the facts and circumstances
! as well as the record" Organ says
indicate conclusively" that Matthew
! O'Brien. n San Francisco architect
was appointed to draw the plans for
the Livermore hospital, "for no other
purpose than to give him job at the
expense of the government and with
out relation to the necessity of his
employment or his ability to- execute
his mission"
Under a sub heading in his report
1 dishonesty and neglect in manage
mcnt" Organ declares this opens UT
"a very disagreeable chapter III the
history of the Veterans Bureau.
mo American can read it, he SAYS
without feeling OF disgust for the
manner in which the great work OF
aiding the disabled was prostituted
for self-aggra Indictment and greed.
Rccitingvthe reforms in administra :
ton of the bureau under Director
Hines, Organ submits number oil
recommendation for further inn
provements and points to matters
| that need correction. He declares
/ the medical service is inefficient be-
ing over-manned and lacking in mo-
ralc: that there has been great waste
and ineffective effort in vocational
training and that political influence
! has determined many appointments
made to positions in the bureau. De-
| lay in adjustment OF claims also Is
! dealt with at length.
Delay in hospital construction Is
| treated and Forbes is attacked Sc
terely In this connection. ORyan
| adds, however, that the progress now
being made in hospital construction
! gives assurance Of adequate facilities
in all parts Of the country within a
short time.