Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-08-14
Two Veterans Bureau Of
fices Merged tC Improve
Service for Incompetents.
GREATER PROTECTION
FOR WARDS is OBJECT
Will Mean Taking Each Case to
Courts-Present Officials Ex-
pected to Keep Posts.

Eevolntionizing the Government
machinery for handling guardianship
matters, Director Hines of the Neter-
ans Bureau has set mp an en'lrelE
new alignment in the bureau To throw
additional protection around mental
jncomrefentS Of the World War.
Rv an order making the most radi-
cal changes in bureau adminstra-
tion since the recent congressional
Investigation into the case of former
District commissioner t'enninG, Direc-
tor Hines has established Il new de-
partment 10 he known as the legal
service. It will combine the functions
and personnel of the former office of
general counsel and the office of the
national ellardia nShip officer.
Although the official order issued
by Gen. Hines late yesterday does
not reveal the names of officials to
take charge Of the new legal service,
it is understood that Mai. William
Wolff Smith win continue as general
counsel and Maj. Davis G.. Arnold.
no has been national guardia nship
officer. will become an assistant gen
eral counsel.
Three Divisions Made.
The new legal service will be com
posed of three principal divisions: The
office Of The general counsel. the law
division and the guardianship division.
Thomas +. Walsh, who has been
head of tho Guardianship Division, un-
der the present system, it is under
stood. will continue under the same
title as part Of the legal service.
New legal functions Of the guard
ianShip officer had deNeloped following
the congressional investigation ana
amendment to the World War Neter-
ans act approved by President tool.
idge last July. These new duties had
expanded the responsibilities Of that
office until. in 4 way. they were par
all@linG some of the functions or the
Office of general counsel.
More rigid protection could be
thrown about the interests OF mnntal
incomnetontS. it WAS decided bN Gen.
Hines. hy q consolidation of the two
offices.
Among the new steps in the bu-
rcau'S program is the ma tier OF tax
ing into court every incompetent un,
der bureau control for determination
of his mental status.
Work Progresses slowly
This is such a gigantic undertaking
that the work is getting underway
alowl,. according to officials of the
bureau. hut will lie pushed as rapidly
as possible. II is known that the
bureau was reluctant to take men
into the courts and have them offl-
ciallv branded as mentally incompe-
tent Under the former plan men
we're allowed IT, continue treatment
fur While without necessity OF Such
pubic exposure of their unfortunate
condition. Such court action. now
e>er has been ncCesSitated by the de-
ma nd made at congressional hearings
on guardianship matters and the bu-
reau is preparing TO 80 ahead
Many patients at st. Elizabeth $ hos
pital under this program Will he
brought into the public eye for the
first time. II was learned today. for
instance. that application OF This pro
gram later may neCeSSitale revealing
the identity Of a certain prominent
official Of one of the largest Govern
ment departments. who recently suf
fered mental disorder.
In the meantime the bureau con
linues to develop a plan for decentral-
izinS patients from ST. EliZabeth's
aS rapidly as beds can be found for
them in hospitals nearer their homes
The bureau. il is known. has been
insisting upon a change in guardian
ship when men have been transfer
red from st f.lZaheth,s, provided
relatives were agreeable
Trust Companies Aiding
Trust companies have been COM
ing forward To assist The bureau in
handling the estates 0f incompetents.
aud officials are gratitic6 AZ this de
Velonment. Since the beginning of
cuardainShips. some trust companies
have been participating. but their
number recently has been increasing
through appointment by the courts.
The number of mental inCompetents
from the World War. according to
records at the bureau today. Contin
ues to increase. So in spite of the
normal rate of discharge and of the
building of new hospitals. congestion
in nenropsyc ychiatric hospitals contin-
ueS To provide the bureau with one
81 its real problems.
Award Of contracts WAS wade a few
days aeo hy the bureau for its largest
hospital Of this Kind Yet built, to be
located al \orthpurt, Long Island. II
will have a capacity Of 300 beds. and
iS Ia cost about 81 Uuu 600