Evening star., 1946-02-01
Legion Charges
VA Breakdown
Under Bradley
Wants Businessman
As Chief; Congress
Probe Demanded
BY ROBERT BRUSKIN.


Congress was called on by the
American Legion today to make
an immediate investigation of a
tragic breakdown" in the Vet
erans' Administration under
Gen. Omar N. Bradley.
John Stelle, the Legion's national
commander, declared: what we
need in charge of the Veterans
Administration is a seasoned busi-
nessman, not a soldier, however
good soldier he may be-"
Mr.. Stelle made the demand
for action in letters to all members
OF Congress and said the lawmakers
should see that their mandates are
no longer ignored by the Veterans
Administration
Bradley to Report Today.
Later officials of the administra-
ton announced that Gen. Bradley
would give report at a news con-
ference at pm. today on his six
months as administrator. Presum-
ably, he will answer the Legion
charges then.
Mr.. Stelle's aides said the Legion
statement was preceded by a tele-
phone battle between the Legion
commander and Gen. Bradley.
Mr.. Stelle based his claims for a
congressional inquiry on these al
legations:
l. Between 100000 and 100000
disability cases cannot receive
proper compensation without un-
dergoing physical examinations be-
cause of the veterans agency's fail
ure to obtain adequate medical rec
ords from the Army and Navy.
2. disqualification applications of
more than 1000 needy veterans
await processing. In addition there
are 1o2 800 Impressed applications
for education and training under
the CT Bill Of Rights, 20,4l1 pend
ing claims for waivers of insurance
18,847 undisposed death
claims and $4,000 unanswered let
ters.
Lack Regional Offices.
8. Failure to speed up all kinds of
veterans affairs through establish
ment Of as many regional offices in
each State as are required to serve
veterans speedily and efficiently by
having their records "close to
home"
4. Continued scattering of Vet
erans' Administration activities in
numerous buildings in Washington
and New York instead of consoli-
dating them in buildings contiguous
to the present central offices.
S. Apparent failure to bring in
enough competent personnel through
fullest exercise OF priorities granted
to the agency by law.
6. Use of such inexperienced and
help in the mails and
records division that unopened let
ters accumulate by the thousands
and processing of cases is delayed"
Methods Not Changed.
Mr.. Steele declared that Gen.
Bradley's appointment as admins
traitor last August led servicemen to
believe that the "antiquated and
inefficient methods of the Veterans
Administration would be changed.
However, he added, that has not
been the case
Several times recently Gen. Brad
ley himself has emphasized there is
a backlog of mail which he is at
tempting to eliminate Frequently
100000 pieces arrive daily at the
main office here.
Gen. Bradley has ordered all
Offices on 24-hour basis, if neces-
sary, to reduce the pile of un-
mail and speed other serv-
ices for veterans. sJ
The Civil Service Commission also
gave him permission to hire en-
ployes direct, without waiting ap-
proval in advance from the COM
as is the customary practice. |
In addition, the general has trans
ferred many employees here from
nearby regional offices to help, tenn
porarily, in reducing backlogs. The
agency recently reported that it had
cut the mail backlog by so per cent.
The reported clash between Gen.
Bradley and Mr.. Stelle allegedly
centered about disqualification pol
(See VETERANS, Page A-4)