Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-04-14
PROBLEM OF CARE
OF WAR DEPENDENTS
U. s. Seeking to Profit by Elk
perience Of Europe in Sup
porting Soldiers Families.
DIRECT PAY IS FAVORED

New York, April l3.-Leading
manufacturers in the United States
are seeking to discover the wisest and
most patriotic way of dealing with
the problem of industrial payrolls
during war time and making pro-
vision for dependent families Of men
who enlist in any branch OF the ma
tional service.
A definite effort is to be made, it
was learned today, to urge the gov
ernment to provide Subsistence al
lowances in the United States to de-
pendent families OF men who enlist,
on a similar basis to that adopted by
the governments Of Great Britain and
Canada, and the creation OF national
patriotic fund will be urged to be
handled by the American Red Cross,
assisted by the Charity Organization
society and local commercial organi-
cations in the matter of necessary in
vestigation.
An enormous fund would have to
be raised in this country, it is said.
Even If only 100000 families should
be involved, it would mean $2O,OOO,-
900 a month, or $240,00000O a year,
for Separation allowance" alone.
Most of this, it is calculated, would be
an additional tax on American bust
ness. 1t is understood everybody
would be asked to contribute to this
fund.
Confusion and Chaos.
Information obtained from author
itative sources in Great Britain and
Canada as to how the problem was
handled there disclosed what are de-
scribed as the most staggering kind
OF experiences"
Il appeared that because the war
was sudden prominent firms and cor
porations in a burst OF patriotism
publicly announced they would give
full pay during the war to every man
who bore arms. This was intended,
it was explained, to encourage enlist
ment.
Something like ruinous confusion
and chaos threatened many Of the
important industries Of Great Britain
and Canada after a year or more OF
this drain upon business, the Amer
lean manufacturers were informed.
The generous offers made at the be-
ginning of the war set pace. which
public sentiment fostered and en-
couraged, but which business was I'M
able to keep up. The result has been,
the investigation showed, that under
takings made by heads of firms
throughout the industries to their
employees had to be cancelled and
the entire method OF dealing with the
problem in Great Britain and Canada
has to be readjusted.
First Move Undemocratic.
Among Canada's chief difficulties
was the system by which individual
firms permitted their employees to 60
to the front on full or part pay,
thereby establishing an "undemocrat-
ic order OF things in the trenches.
The Canadian employers concluded
that condition where men fought
side by side with a different ratio
OF remuneration for their patriotism
naturally bred discomfort and in their
opinion was morally wrong. Enlist
ments, moreover, were encouraged
without regard to skilled or unskilled
labor, with the result that produc-
ton was severely handicapped.
Employers who had promised their
employees to give them back their
own jobs found it impossible to full
fill their promises. Many came back
manned and injured and after two
years of war vast army OF tempo.
rary help had been created in the
factories. The problem of getting
rid Of this temporary help on the
return of the soldiers proved diff
cult one.
The employer in Great Britain ant
Canada would, first OF all, it was ex
planned, provide for "selective con
scription," taking young unmarried
men and even from this first draf
send back to the factories every mar
who was skilled workman.
Three Glasses Of Allowances.
THE British and Canadian govern
ments have decided, the American
manufacturers have been informed
to pay . Subsistence allowance" Il
each dependent family, representing
figure sufficient for food and rem
alone. That has been figured out t
be $sl.6S a month for family o
two adults and three children, paid b,