LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL UNITED STATES VETERANS' BUREAU, Washington, D. C., December 1, 1924. To the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Sixty-eighth Congress: Pursuant to the provisions of section 14 of the act of June 7, 1924 (Public No. 242, 68th Cong.), I have the honor to submit the following report of activities of the United States Veterans' Bureau for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1924. This is the third annual report of the United States Veterans' Bureau covering the activities of the United States Government in extending relief to the World War veterans. Unfortunately this report, because of the date of its preparation, can not reflect the extent of increased benefits resulting from the application of the World War veterans' act of 1924, other than to indicate the changing of organization now being accomplished, and to point out the improved methods which will unquestionably obtain. This report reviews the work of the United States Veterans' Bureau during a period when one of the primary activities, namely, Vocational training, was materially diminishing in volume, and when, with a more settled load, medical activities properly became more concentrated upon treatment of the individual rather than the acquirement of facilities and the building up of organization. With these changes, there naturally resulted changes in procedure made notable by an ever increasing decentralization of authority and action to the field stations. This continuous decentralization of authority and action has caused the bureau organization throughout the entire country to be in a continuous state of flux. The further decentralization now being carried out continues this condition. A review of the report emphasizes this point, but will demonstrate that this reorganization, with its resultant closer contact with the veteran, has improved the service to the disabled, which is the predominant task of the bureau to-day. Respectfully, FRANK T. HINES, Director United States Veterans' Bureau. III 3380 3-19 1923/24 567601 |