The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-08-28
WALSH FOR
TRIAL Of
Gull TY
Director Hines Announces Re-
forms, including Opening
Of Regional Offices
By H. K. REYNOLDS,
international News Service.


International News Service.
Waste and incompetency in the
operation Of the United States
Veterans Bureau was charged to-
day by Senator David /. Walsh
(Dem.) Of Massachusetts, in a re-
port on the Senate investigation
Of the bureau, simultaneously with
the announcement by Director
Frank T. Hines that plans had
been completed for establishing
regional officers throughout the
country as part of the bureaus
reorganization program.
The Walsh report reviewed the
entire history Of the Governments
efforts to care for disabled world
war veterans and it's criticism Of
the bureau was directed chiefly
at the previous administration Of
Colonel Charles R. Forbes as di-
rector.
Improvement Needed.
AS to the administration Of Gen.
eral Hines, Senator Walsh declared
that perfection has not yet been
reached and much Improvement is
still possible.
Walsh pointed out that the Senate
investigation Of the Veterans
Bureau, conducted by the special
committee headed by Senator David
A. Reed Rep) of Pennsylvania,
had resulted in the indictment of
eighteen persons, including Colonel
Forbes. for alleged conspiracy to
defraud the Government and on
other charges. These cases are
now awaiting trial in federal courts.
Under the decentralization scheme
announced today by Director Hines
branch offices will be maintained
In many additional cities so that
veterans win have less difficulty
In getting in touch with the
bureaus activities.
The regional offices-there will
be fifty-one of them to start with
will be composed OF medical,
claims, rehabilitation and service
divisions and will have final author.
tty in handling Eases of veterans
except that appeals may be taken
20 the Director at Washington.
Authority of Offices.
With the exception Of the right
Of appeal, the regional offices will
have authority in:
~ Granting of vocational train
Ing, supervision of training and the
securing of employment for veterans
~ Examination of veterans, the
making of medical ratings and
the awarding of compensation
claims \.
(3) Granting of medical. surgical
dental and hospital care.
al Making expenditures for com
pensation allowances.
Under the old bureau regulations
all these matters were handled In
Washington. The new plan is de
signed to bring the bureau closer
to the veterans and to make II
easier for them to take advantage
of the new liberalized compensation
law.
Washington will get one of the
fifty-one regional offices to be es
tablished in line with the policy 81
Brigadier General Frank T. Hine:
to bring the bureau to the veteran
according to announcement today
by the Veterans Bureau.
Four regional offices will be es
tablished in place of the fourth dis
trict which includes the District
Maryland, Virginia and West Vir
ginia. Regional offices are to b,
established here, at Baltimore, Rich
mond and Charleston.
Ratings hereafter will be made Al
the regional offices on a plan Of
personal contact instead Of paper
ratings. The regional offices will
be accountable directly to the dlrec
tor Of the bureau and will have
final authority excepting for appea
to the director in the followint
matters: Examination Of claimant.
and beneficiaries; fixing Of medica
ratings and award of compensation
claims; granting of vocational train
ing; supervision Of training and OBJ
tanning employment: granting o
medical, surgical, dental, hospita
care. convalescent care, and neces
sary and reasonable care aftel
treatment.
Rating boards, which must COM
into contact with the veterans, ar,
to be maintained by the regiona
offices. On the board will be
claims examiner, a claims reviewer
a vocational specialist and tw,
medical referees.