OCR Text |
Show He predicted that by 1975 there would be 3,000,000 veterans with service-connected disabilities. "The American Legion apreci-ates apreci-ates fully the problems of private hospitals," Commander O ' N e i 1 said, ttt it cannot entertain any proposal to jeopardize the adequacy ade-quacy of veterans' hospital facilities. facili-ties. Our disabled veterans are entitled to first consideration." government medical care and treatment. This was the warning of National Na-tional Commander James F. O'Neil of The American Legion here, as he rejected as "selfish and short-sighted" the proposal of the American Hospital Association that Congress sidetrack further construction of veterans' hospitals. "The VA today has only 101,195 beds in 92 existing hospitals." Commander O'Neil said. "It will need a minimum of 260,000 beds to handle the peak load." -COMMANDER ASKS SPEED UP OF HOSPITAL PROGRAM With more than 2,000,000 World War I and II veterans suffering from service-connected disabilities disabili-ties that may make them bedridden bed-ridden at any time, only the speediest possible prosecution of the VA hospital construction program pro-gram can equip the nation for coping with the coming load of ex-servicemen and women needing |