AMERICAN SCANDAL.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17181, 26 October 1923, Page 4

AMERICAN SCANDAL.

VETERANS’ BUREAU INVESTIGATION. ®Er Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. WASHINGTON, October 24. A Senate committee which is investigating the Veterans’ Bureau, a Federal organisation which already lias spent in excess of 4,000,000.000 dollars for the purposes of repatriation, vocational training and hospital treatment of ex•Crvicemen, has disclosed conditions of the most sensational character. Tho result promises to he the blackest epitode of corruption in America since the War. Former officials are charged with receiving a share of profits on contracts to construct hospitals. In many eases the architect received fees amounting to GO.OOO dollars for plans that were never used. Dental appropriations totalling 6,000.000 dollars for gold used in dental work were fraudulently acquired by individuals who substituted brass for gold in the work. Attempts were made to dispose of 6,000,000 dollars’ worth of drugs and liquors, which should have been used for medicinal purposes. Personal dissipation, immoral conduct and the acceptance of bribery are charged on the part of important officials connected with the bureau, witnesses alleging many incidents of corruption, inefficiency and heartless disregard of a public trust.