Evening star., 1928-05-15
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

There is lady who frequents Capt.
tol Hill gho is known to have spent
many months in France during the
World War, nursing the disabled Amer
lean soldiers in hospitals. After the
war. she devoted two or three years
nursing the boys in Walter Reed Hos
Harding appointed this American
Florence Nightingale" general In
spector Of hospitals. and when Mr..
Coolidge succeeded President Harding
her reappointment was one Of his first
official acts
She is known to all members Of Con-
gress, and so highly regarded by them
that she had no difficulty in breaking
in on the debate a few days ago and
making a ringing appeal to the House
of Representatives to pass a bill ap-
propriating $4,000, 900 for greater
hospital facilities for the veterans
throughout the Nation. In fact, she
had introduced that bill and was lead
ing the fight for its passage: she Is
Mrs. Edith Nourse Rogers, widow of
Representative Rogers of MasSachu-
setts. II seems proper to drop the %
in that middle name, but since she
is now a member OF Congress in her
She is still the informed champion
OF the veterans with whose Sufferings
she has been In such close contact
for a decade. She knows what limita-
tions the present Veterans Bureau hos
pitals are putting upon adequate care
of the disabled, and how the demand
is certain to keep on increasing, until
the peak may be reached by 1919. She
knows. by personal inspection in an ofii-
cial capacity, the danger of some Of the
temporary firetraps of hospitals built
in the stress of war. which should now
be replaced by stone or brick struc-
lures with all modern equipment for
surgery and the comfort OF the patients.
on which the bureau is paying high
rents. and which are not modern in
equipment.
The Rogers bill for additional hospi-
tails and for requirements OF the wooden
hospitals amounting to SIS 900. 600.
passed the House triumphantly, and, so
far as its author has been able 10 as
certain. 1t will easily pass the Senate
this week, and receive the Presidents
approval Yet there were some Con-
greSsmen In opposition. in spite OF the
fact of the need as presented TO the
committee by Mrs. Rogers and others.
The bill will provide 1000 beds, and
It is noteworthy that the plan contains
~ hospitals for neuropSychiatric pa
tients. for tuberculosis patients and
3 general hospitals. That distribution
Is most significant OF the character OF
the demands now coming to the Vet
eranS' Bureau. The neuropSychiatric
patients are increasing in numbers, as
the years go by, more rapidly than the
general diseases.
In the course OF her speech before the
House. Mrs, Rogers stated the case SS
follows:
Mr. Speaker, in authorizing appro-
priations for the hoSpital-butlding pro-
gram for our disabled World War men
and women veterans the veterans COM
mittee has very grave responsibility,
Lack of hospital facilities may mean
loss OF life or failure Of complete re-
coYery While We have spent great
deal OF money in hospitals. We have
never been prepared TO meet all needs.
We have the gravest responsibility 10
the veterans. Their care Is our sacred
trust We also have responsibility 10
the taxpayer not to build just for the
sake OF building.
we must all remember that We are
legiSlating for the entire couatry and
not for Just one section of The country.
While this measure does not not, In my
opinion. cover every need, II Is the best
We could do at the present time,
We are legiSlating for two years, as
last year bill passed the House hut
failed In the Senate. owing Ia the Sem
ate tilibuster, That bill carried an $ll.-
0Oo. 900 program. This year the bill
carries a $4,000, 900 program.
The hospital load in the neuropSy-
chiatrie cases will be very materially in-
creased In 1880. which Is probably the
earliest period when the new building
projects can be completed,
Your committee has recommended
that something over 1000 beds be built,
OF that number i,il1 beds are replace
mentS,
"At the present time there il = de-
piorable shortage of beds for the ne0-
ropSychiatric cases, Nearly three
fourthS OF the new beds recommended
win be used for these cases,
1T Is Of the greatest Importance
that we provide proper care for our
neryouSly and mentally sick. In legiS-
lating for our very sick mental eases
We are giving help to those who can
not help themselves, Their plight Is
pitiful one, Those Of MS who have
actually taken care Of the men and