The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1933-03-16
ECONOMY EDICT
APT TO CLOSE
HOSPITAL HERE
Roosevelt Is Given Power to
Shut Doors of Veteran
Institutions.
Continued From Page One)

percentage is higher due to the
numerous chronic cases that are
sent to neighboring veterans insti-
tutions for care.
Primarily the local hospital is
surgical in nature and handles acute
cases demanding immediate opera
tions
The removal of tonsils is one
operation at the Cold Springs roa II !
institution that is high on the list
of non-service disqualification.
200 on Waiting List
Ale said approximately 200 per-
sons with non-service disabilities
are on the hospitals waiting list
seeking entrance for care.
Veterans with service-connected
injuries are given preference over
non-service illness or injury in the
clamor for beds, but an average OF
only about one veteran a day with a
service connected injury applies TO
the hospital for treatment.
If the President should drastical-
ly ban disqualification of non-serv-
ice illness it would take the local
hospital approximately h
months to fill its beds with patients
suffering from service injuries.
Transfer ChronicaIly I'll
1t is pointed out by officials of the
veterans bureau that in case the
hospital was not closed, and that
the patients were taken on service |
connected injuries, the hospital
would be refilled in the period Of
three months with chronic cases |
in a good measure.
At present the chronically i'll are
sent to Marion, Ind, Chillicothe, o.,
and the government hospital at
Camp Custer, Mich.
Tubercular patients are sent to
Dawson Springs, KY, and the hos
pital at Dayton, o., with general !
medical cases going to Dayton, Dan
vile and Dwight, Ill. and to the
Hines hospital near Chicago.
$50 Are Employed
Ale said that claims for disabili-
ties, oddly enough had not been |
pressed since the agitation for econ |
omy in the administration of vet
Grams affairs.
EX-service men are not rushing
to the hospital for the treatment |
of non-service ailments it is said.
Two hundred eighty employees, |
with approximately eighty in actual |
hospital service, are employed in
the Cold Spring road structure. Ad- |
ministrative Offices of the regional |
division, the insurance department. |
claims department and other vet
Grams bureau offices are housed in |
the structure in addition to the hos
pital
A nurses home and maintenance |
building are other structures on the
grounds.
100 Per Cent Turnover
The hospital was one of a block |
of new institutions authorized by |
congress in various sections of the |
United States as part of program |
of booming public works and con-
struction in the nation during the
first years of the depression.
The thirty -nine-aCre site Of the !
hospital was given to the govern
ment by the city.
Since opening its doors in Janu-
airy. 1882. 2,061 veterans have been
hospitalized. The turnover in pa
tients has been approximately 100
per cent monthly.
Rather than close the hospitals
doors, it is believed by some, the
President could authorize the use
of the institution as a home for
veterans similar to the institution
at Dayton, o.
Transfer Is Possible
Employees of the veterans admin |
istrative offices could be transferred |
to Washington and the nurses and |
doctors to other hospitals, should |
the President plan a Capitalization |
of the veterans bureau and abolish
ment Of regional bureaus and some |
hospitals of the nation.
Anu, DIS lIlt ulSCuSSlOH SIlIIS pro
and con as to what the President |
plans in the way of economy, it
all goes back to the five-word lee
way he is given by the above
quoted congressional amendment, |
If he deems it necessary"
And that's a mouthful," say
worried hospital employees !