Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-12
BURKE TOO BUSY
TO WRITE LETTERS
U. S. Treasurer and Force
Hard at Work Handling
Relief Funds.
LITTLE INFORMATION
SENT FROM ABROAD
Chief Object Is to Relieve Refugees
and the Mail Must Wait
a Let-Up.

abroad-both In the Office OF the United
States treasurer and branches through
out the country. employed In taking
deposits for the aid Of Americans
abroad, and diplomatic officials ip
Europe. engaged in disbursing such
funds-are entirely engrossed In tho
gigantic task, exacting immediate at
tention and all their energies. Of look
ing after the interests OF such Ameri-
cans marooned In the war zone
They have had yet no time to pause
to enlighten Americans safe at home
who may be anxious about their friends
and relatives in Europe and seeking
information as to their safety, or as
to the delivery to them of money for
their relief. Such anxious inquiry must
wait for response until the first and
imperative duty of caring for i'm
periled Americans In Europe has been
satisfied.
individuals anxious regarding the
success Of their efforts to place money
at the disposal of friends and rela-
tives abroad through the government
agencies have importuned the Office Of
the treasurer for such inform ton.
General questions as to conditions
threatening the welfare of Americans
at particular points in the war zone.
where individuals have interest In peo-
pie in the vicinity. are also fired at
the treasurer.
ut is impossible for us to give any
information about payments of funds
abroad" states Treasurer Burke. This
office has really nothing to do with
for It. make a auadruple report to
the Secretary Of the Treasury. This
report includes the name Of the de-
positor. amount deposited. name OF the
beneficiary In Europe. together with
address and description. The descrip-
ton is for the purpose of identif~ing
such person before the deposit is paid
over.
"a copy Of this report is sent to the
State Depe pertinent. which does the
cabling to the ambassadors. ministers
and consuls. We are always able to
get Information as to the date when
the money was BLEED. We have been
unable to get any Information what
ever as to whether payment was made
in Europe.
Too Busy Paying Out.
"The explanation that we get is: That
our disbursing officers in Europe are
SO busy making payments. looking up
Americans and receiving cablegrams
that they have no time to look back
through the records to see who has
been paid and who has not been paid.
1t would require about as much time
to look up and cable back the names
of those who have received their
cable them to the different places In
Europe. They feel that their time Is
better spent in looking after and car
ing for Americans who are IN need IN
Europe than in looking up informa-
tion for Americans In America who
are all right.
"Of course. 1 know how ANXIOUS every
American IL about his relatives abroad.
thought at one time of making 2
everything possible would be done TO
find Americans and deliver money in.
tended for them. ] thought that "
this was done 1t would head off lot
of questions and save a lot OF work
at this office. After thinking the matter
over l came to the conclusion to let
every one ask any question desired,
on account of their anxiety. and we
to answer them. know that II some
of my dear relatives were in Europe,
especially in the war zone, that my
anxiety would lead me to ask just as
$50 far as we have been able to learn.
no payments of funds deposited for
Americans abroad were made until
August %. The reason for this is that
we had no money in Europe to pay
with, and we had no one there to make
the payments; except in a few in
stances. when ambassadors, ministers
and consuls advanced money out of
their own pockets. and. of course, these
were exceptional cases and small
amounts.
Money by Cruiser.
TT was necessary first to get money
over to Europe before we could make
any payments. The money was sent
on the Tennessee and North Carolina
Perhaps you know how Assistant Sec
rotary Of War Breckenridge went in
person with gold in kegs to different
places in Europe.
Payment was begun In England
in the other countries until Mr.. Breck-
tnridge got there with gold. We also
established a credit In different places
by depositing gold In New York to the
credit of some bank in foreign coun-
try. We sent 100000 in gold bars to
the financial agent Of Canada to the
credit of the Bank of England. In Lon
don, and we have transferred money
to be used by the assistant treasurer
of Americans from Europe to New
York who did not have the money TO
nav their fare. We expended $4,000
in this way on one ship alone.
IT mention these things SO that II
can be seen that the administration is
trying to do everything possible to
help Americans to get back home.
cannot answer questions about details
of finding Americans and paying them
money deposited for them. only
know in a general way that our agents
are working night and day to hnd
and there are great many
of them.
cans abroad They naturally drift Into
the embassies and seek the protection
Of ambassador. minister or consul.
wish / might give specific Information
that every deposit inquired about has
or has not been paid, but cannot. We
are unable to get such SPECIFIC infor-
Our agents and disbursing
officers are confining all their time and
energy to the assistance OF Americans
abroad"
Sample Of Letters.
Treasurer Burke permitted inspection
of the letter Of inquiry addressed to
him by one correspondent, This man.
n prominent business man, land no
doubt" as the treasurer commented. "a
very reasonable man usually and I'M
der ordinary circumstances" wrote to
saw that he was tired of genera1ities.
and that he wanted SPECIFIC informa-
ton, He asked with what railroads In
Europe has this government ma er-
to bring Americans to the
ports? With what steamship companies
nave arrangements been maze TO prins
home?
"Just as though there was no war at
all. and lust as though railroad COM
Danies were running their trains as
rerularly as usual And just rs though
there was nothing to prevent our max: