Evening star., 1927-02-09
BUREAU MAY BAN
DOCTORS PERMITS
Wholesale Liquor Traffic
Probe at haywood, H.,
StirS Gen. Hines.

The Veterans Bureau is consider
ing issuing orders forbiddlng all doc
tors under it's Jurisdiction to possess
liquor prescription permits, 1t was
learned today following the disclosure
that 19 physicians on the staff of the
Government hospital at haywood,
near Chicago, were under investiga
tton in connection with a Wholesale
ira ffic In whisky prescriptions.
Both the Veterans Bureau and the
prohibition enforcement unit of the
Treasury are probing the charges
against the Illinois physicians. all of
whom are attached to the Edward
Hines, Jr, Hospital These investlga-
tions have been in progress for more
than two weeks, 1t was announced.
Maj. Gen. Frank T. Hines. director
of the Veterans Bureau, said he had
received preliminary report from
his own investigators today, showing
that the alleged Irregularities affected
only about six visiting physicians on
the hospital staff He added that
more detailed statement probably
would he given ont by prohibition
unit officials in Chicago later In the
day showing early reports 10 have
been exaggerated.
Situation Spurs Inquiry.
Although the suggestion that the
need for intpxicants for medicinal
purposes in hospitals under the bureau
Is understood to have originated some
time before suspicion was directed
toward the haywood staff, 1t is said
that this situation has done much to
accelerate an investigation to de-
termine whether the ban on liquor
permits among Veterans Bureau
doctors would he feasible.
Should such an order be issued, II
was pointed out. it would apply to all
doctors who have any Identification
with the Veterans Bureau. This
would include many physicians who
serve only in a visiting capacity and
maintain their own private practices.
Officials declared however, that the
amount of liquor used in the hospitals
now is too negligible to be considered
as part of the necessary treatment
for their patients.
Gen. Hines said the situation at
haywood came to his notice for the
first time about two weeks ago, when
DR.. Robin w. e. Francis, medical di.
rector of the hospital. called on the
medical director-in-chief here and told
him certain members of his staff were
being investigated by prohibition en-
forcement agents in connection with
abuse of their liquor permits.
Probe Promptly Ordered.
Immediately upon being informed of
the alleged irregularities, Gen. Hines
ordered an investigation by the hos
pital officials and asked the Treasury
10 have it's agents cooperate to the
fullest extent of their ability. He of
fered, too, all of the facilities of his
office to assist the prohibition agents
in their own investigation. Since that
time he received no further informa-
ton on the case until today's report
was received.
Gen, Hines added however. that he
never put much faith in charges in
yOlving 19. members of the haywood
staff, which comprises a total of only
81 doctors. This number would have
included many doctors who had no
use for prescription books, as they
could have obtained liquor for hospital
patients direct from the hospital drug
store. Ordinarily staff physicians who
have no outside practice do not own
liquor prescription permits.
Announcement OF the impending ex-
posure was first made by a Chicago
newspaper this morning, according to
the Associated Press. The Govern
ment hospital doctors, it was said,
We're to be questioned" along with
many other doctors concerning the
sale of thousands of prescription
blanks to bootlegging druggists at SO
each. The alleged frauds were un-
covered by Prohibition Administrator
E. c. Yellowley when his office at
tempted to check the names Of pa
tients on the fraudulent prescriptions.
Gen. Hines said he remembered only
one other instance in which Veterans
Bureau physicians have been suspect
ed of abusing their liquor prescription
permits. This concerned a doctor in
a Government hospital in New York
Rumors- implicated most of the staff,
however. The doctor in question re-
signed before. the investigation was
completed, Gen Hines said. but II
later developed that he was the only
one implicated