Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-02-02
Veterans
Continued From First Page.)

ing of his six months stewardship
during which the number of vet
Grams climbed from 6,688 900 last
August to 13,490,0O0 on January 81
Agency Behind in Work.
He acknowledged that the Vet
Grams Administration was somewhat
behind in its work, but he declared
that difficulties are gradually, but
surely, being overcome. Under ques-
tioning, he disclosed that when he
took over no plans existed for the
decentralizing of Offices to handle
veterans cases with a maximum
efficiency.
He volunteered no information as
to the cause of the telephone quar-
rel with Mr.. STEELE last Wednesday
which led to the American Legion's
action. However, after numerous
questions, he declared that Mr..
STEELE, former Governor of Illinois,
asked him to reconsider the site Sc
lected for a hospital in Decatur, Ill.
The site selected was in a better
section of the city on a lake front,
Gen. Bradley declared. Mr.. Stelle
brought the Mayor of Decatur to
Gen. Bradley's Office about a month
ago and a new study was ordered
On reconsideration, however, the
Veterans Administration decided
that the 200-bed hospital, which is
expected to cost about $500, 600
should be placed on the site it had
selected.
Mr.. STEELE opened the telephone
conversation with request that
Gen. Bradley reconsider the loca-
ton, but he was refused. After
wards, Mr. STEELE asked Gen. Bradley
to serve on scholarship committee
of the American Legion. but Gen.
Bradley said he had received COM
plants from other veterans organ
izations because one official of the
administration had allegedly con-
sented to serve on the Membership
Committee of the American Legion. u
misunderstanding.
Gen. Bradley said he learned the
official mentioned in the complaint
did not become a member of the
committee, but he had nevertheless
| forbade persons in the Veterans Ad-
ministration from serving on vet
eran organization committees, and
as result he had refused Mr.
Stelle's request.
STEELE may have misunderstood
me to say that I was refusing to
serve on any committee with him, y
explained Gen. Bradley. The last
Of the conversation just before he
hung up was his suggestion that if
can't cut red tape faster I had bet
ter go back to the Army
Asked if he thought the telephone
conversation had anything to dc
with the American Legion's charges
to Congress, Gen. Bradley declared
Il believe they would have beer
made anyway by Mr.. STEELE"
Asked if the conversation wa.
heated" Gen. Bradley explained
smilingly, We'll never lost m.
temper" He emphasized the wore
my"
Asked to comment on the job tn,
Veterans Administration was doing
in the face Of the Legion charges
Gen. Bradley declared that puts mt
on the spot" Despite the enormou.
difficulties, he said, 81 think we have
made as much progress as we could
I believe We have done as we'll as
could be expected"
Rankin Supports Bradley.
| Under additional questioning
Gen. Bradley said he suspected
that Mr.. Stelle's demands does moi
represent those of the majority oil
the American Legion"
Mr.. Rankin declared "this is the
most unjust attack on the Veterans
Administration I ever heard. I have
the record of this man STEELE anc
think he has done the American
Legion an injustice"
Much OF what Mr.. STEELE said was
untrue, Mr.. Rankin asserted.
Rallying to Gen. Bradley's defense
were the national representatives o.
Veterans Of Foreign Wars, Military
Order of the Purple Heart, DISABLED
American Veterans, American Vet.
Grams Committee, American Veter.
ans of World War II and the GIG
Veterans Committee.
These organizations Endorsed Gen
Bradley for the work he had don,
since President Truman brough
him back from Europe to becom,
veterans administrator last August
They called for full opportunity t.
permit him to place his plans il
operation.
lViroinio Assem-