Evening star., 1924-01-19
VETERANS PROTEST
WALTER REED PLAN
Want 100000 Improve.
ments Made at Mount Alto
Instead of Army Hospital.

Protest against use of 100000 out
or the general disqualification fund
OF s6,500,O00 proposed In a bill on
which hearings are now being held
before the House committee on pub
lie buildings and grounds. for further
building up of Walter Reed Hospital
to care for disabled world war vet
Grams, was made at the hearing before
the House committee today.
/ It was urged that this 100000.
which Director Hines Of the Veterans
bureau testified yesterday he intend
ed 10 use to provide fireproof quar-
tefs at Walter Reed, TO care for 200
more general patients and 100 tuber-
GUAR patients, should be expended,
instead, on Mount Alto Hospital.
Protest by Veterans.
This protest was made today after
Director Hines had completed his tes-
timony and left the hearing and was
laid before the committee by Sergt.
irwin: representing the national re-
napiiitation committee of the Dis
a6ied World War Veterans, and
Thomas Kirby. representing the same
organization. Representative Wolf of
Sissouri. new member Of the House
committee, also made lengthy
speech on the conditions at Walter
Reed Hospital.
The committee expects to make a
favorable report ON this bill next
tuesday. The report would have been
ordered today, but several members
or the committee expressed a desire
TO be further enlightened by Gen.
Hines, who has been invited to testify
again at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning
The protestants against Walter
Reed Hospital and in favor of Mount
Alto said that they were as anxious
as any one to see Walter Reed i'm
proved. emphasizing that it is veri-
table fire trap, but argued that the
improvements should be made under
the Army appropriation bill.
ihey pointed out that Walter Reed
hospital Is under Army discipline.
which makes a condition difficult for
regulation by the Veterans' Bureau.
Tells of Experiences.
They also pointed out that in their
opinion all Of the world war vet
Grams should be transferred to some
hospital over which the Veterans
Rureau had exclusive jurisdiction.
Capt. Kirby was for a year and a
half at Mount Alto. and from his
own experience described the situ-
alton.
Chairman Langley raised the point
that the bill does not designate any
particular hospital, but that this is
an administrative question, where
Director Hines has the authority to
say where the money shall be spent.
( 1t was indicated by members of the
committee that they have no d:spo-
sition to interfere in the matter and
| that probably the 100000 will be
| spent at Walter Reed.
In reply to questions, Irwin and
Kirby said that they had taken this
i matter up with Gen. Hines and with
War Department officials. Among
Hospital was that colored patients
tients Representative Wolf urged
| patients.
There was disagreement over fig-
i ures presented by Gen. Hines which
prompted some members of the COM
mittee to ask that he be invited TO
testify again.
Gen. Hines reported that in Decem-
Der there were 1000 beds unsuitable
and approximately 5000 beds vacant.
The question raised was whether the
5000 included the 1000. Gen. Hines
also told the committee that there
are approximately 5000 men in con-
tract hospitals, that since he assume
charge the number has been reduced
about 1000, and that 1t is now the
Jpolicy of the Veterans Bureau to fur
ther reduce the number in contract
hospitals as fast as places can be
found in Veterans Bureau hospitals.
Some members of the committee also
wished to inquire regarding the
availability of beds in certain locali-
ties.