Veterans' Bureau

In Chicago, is approaching the end of the egregious Veterans' Bureau scandal. Charles R. Forbes, former director of the Bureau, and J. W. Thompson, a contractor, are on trial for conspiracy to defraud the Gov- ernment in connection with the letting of contracts for veterans' hospitals. The testimony in large part was noisome if not nauseous; but it is important in that it will probably result in a legat determination of the charges of corruption in the Veterans' Bureau under the Forbes regime.

The chief witness for the Govern-ment is Elias H. Mortimer, who tes- tified last year before the Senate investigating committee. He testified that he entered into an agreement with Contractor Thompson and an associate (one Black, now dead) to procure hospital contracts for them in consideration of 35% of the profits that they should make. He also declared that he had made an agreement with Mr. Forbes for an equal division of these proceeds between the two of them. He told of giving Mr. Forbes various sums at several times, paying Forbes' traveling expenses on a trip to the Pacific, and of another disreputable arrangements. He admitted that he was equally guilty with Mr. Forbes; and explained his testimony on the ground that Mr. Forbes had incurred his enmity by seducing his wife.

The defense presented witnesses who impugned Mr. Mortimer's character and his reliability, who denied there was any conspiracy, who de- clared that on at least one occasion Mr. Mortimer had not given Mr. Forbes money as the former had testified, who told that Mr. Mortimer had sworn to "get" Mr. Forbes for not joining him to make illicit profits, who declared that Mr. Mortimer had threatened to drag his wife's name in the mire when she would not give fake testimony to ruin Mr. Forbes.

Those who do not like the savor of the trial remarked that eventually even the records of the court will perish from decomposition if not from fire.