Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-14

majority of whom are insane. For most
of these there is little hope Of life as
we enjoy 1t, but / assure you a SYM
pathetic service is continuously devoted
to their care, so such contentment as is
possible will be theirs.
It is natural to inquire why, now-12
years after the armistice-we are still
planning more hospitals, and why, even
after our present approved plans are
accomplished, we still see ahead further
expenditures for construction. Our pa
tent population reached its peak eight
years ago, at 1880, then subsidized two
years later to $4,000, and now has ap-
preached its previous peak with pres
ent load of 30,781. Up to 1924, We could
only hospitalize those suffering from
disabilities OF service origin. In June
Of 1924, Congress authorized the hos
pitalization, SO far as Government ia
cilitieS were available, of veterans of
all wars who were IN need of treat
ment regardless of the character or ORR
gin of their disabilities. Immediately
the character of our patient load chang
ed, until today more than 40 per
cent OF all patients in Government hos
pitfalls are there not because Of disabili-
ties Of service, but for diseases or in
! jurieS not shown to be due to service.
The percentage of these cases has ris-
en- continuously, and thereby our hos
pital resources have been taxed to ca
pacity. With a reservoir of more than
100000 men and women, you may
readily understand to what proportions
this may extend If it is to be the
policy of our Government to establish
facilities for them proportionate to the
| probable need. In the estimates for
hospital construction made up to this
year, the essential basis was the need
for the Service-connected case, Congress
having been silent as to It's intent in
providing permanent facilities for those
suffering from conditions not due to
service beyond existing facilities. Last
December, however, Congress author
lied additional construction to the
amount Of nearly sixteen million dol
| lars, which cannot be construed as in
tended exclusively for those disabled in
service. If this legislation Is conceded
as indicative of an intent to embark
on q construction program for nom
service-connected cases, vastly increased
expenditures on hospital construction
and operation may be expected The
exact extent cannot now be stated, but
preliminary studies by expert statistic
clans and physicians familiar with this
| problem indicate a future obligation in
this direction which far overshadows
our whole experience to date. Certain
~ these data, when complete, will jus-
tify a most careful consideration by
Congress, so that in their further def
milton of policy for the hospital treat
ment of these cases a fun comprehen-
sion will obtain as to the probable eff
feet and cost.
Provisions Liberalized.
From the foregoing It will be seen
that the original legislation for World
War veterans sought definitely to pro-
vide vocational training, compensation
and medical care and treatment for the
veterans who were disabled through
their military service. Amendatory leg
islation, affecting particularly hospital
treatment and compensation, has great
ly liberalized the original provisions
and reflects a most sympathetic atti-
tude toward the World War veteran on
the part of Congress. Consistent with
this liberal attitude on the part of
Congress has the Veterans Bureau
shaped its policies so that the relief af-
forded may be extended to the eligible
veteran promptly, generously and SYM
pathetically.
There has been increasingly manifest,
however, public criticism of the bureaus
failure to favorably adjudicate certain
claims for disability compensation made
by veterans who are unquestionably dis
abled In answer to this, may say that
the Veterans Bureau is simply the in
strument for administering the laws
passed by Congress for the relief of
veterans. These laws have specifically
precribed the conditions precedent to
the application Of the several relief ben
efits which they provide. Under the
law, the bureau cannot make any rules
or regulations inconsistent with it. For
the purpose of connecting disabilities
! with service, the law requires that GER
tain of its stipulated requirements be
shown. In the absence of this show
ing, there exists no legal authority for
the bureau, or any other Government
agency, to grant dement's the right to
which is based primarily upon this
lacking element. Even under such cir
cumstances, no final action adverse tc
a veterans claim is taken without sin
cere and sympathetic application OF
the Veterans Bureau policy to resolve
all reasonable doubt in favor of the vet
eran.
1t is undeniable however, that even
under the most liberal Interpretation
and application of the law, hardship
and sometimes distress, must result
The relief for this situation however
does not lie in the liberalization of the
Veterans Bureau application of the
law, and certainly cannot lie in its
transgreSsion, but, rather, must lie in
such changes In the law itself as Con-
gress may deem advisable.
The same situation we are experience
ing now-that is, the impossibility OF
many disabled veterans being eligible
for compensation or pension-has been
before the Government subsequent to
prior wars, and for the relief of vet
Grams Of prior wars who were disabled