Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-03-27
Red CROSS CARING
FOR $50 FAMILIES
"Pensions" Dependents of SOL
diers and Sailors Until AL
lotments Arrive
UNCLE SAM IS TARDY
sGovernment Checks at Times Are
81 Six Weeks to Two Months
Behind

Three hundred and eighty families or
men enlisted in the United states army
and navy are being 'pensioned tenn
porarily by the Home Service Section
of the American Red Cross, of this city,
due to the nonarrival of service allot-
ments from the Bureau of War Risk In
surance. in Washington.
These are part of 1900 and more
cgses that have been reported at the
Home Service Section, 1907 Walnut
street, since the allotment system was
put into effect, which requires the aid
of persons who have studied the situa-
tion. 1t is by this plan that suffering
has been held down TO the minimum IN
the homes where the father, the brother
the son, who Is the sole support of the
remaining members OF the family, has
gone TO do his "bt" and, according TO
officials of the Red Cross here. many OF
these men have taken on more than
their bit" and in reality ought to be
home. The Red Cross officials, however,
state that the dependents do not say II.
only In severe cases.
The pension system allows only
enough money to the families at home to
take care of their urgent needs until
the money set aside by the enlisted man
and the Government arrives. According
TO members of the committee the Gov
ernment checks never arrive in less
than six weeks to two months. 1t Is
during that period that the families
must be cared for. as many persons are
left with but few dollars, when their
sole support is taken from them These
as well as cases where the records seem
TO show no trace of certain men who
have enlisted and through errors pay
ments are held up, are being watched
and cared for.
IL Mrs. Madeira Explains.
s Mrs. Louis e. Madeira, member OF
the home service section committee. eX-
planned that the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance was doing a big job and n
new job in the fastest manner that II
could be done and that would soon be
placed on basis that would make it
efficient and no suffering result.
ie She did however admit that they had
found several families in dire circum-
stances, due more to the fact that their
cases had not been reported to the Red
Gross Committee than anything else.
Mrs. Madeira explained that hundreds
applied at the headquarters each day
for advice OH the allotment plan and in
each day a few serious complaints.
4 In each case, she said, one Of the
assistants would make personal in
vestigaton, and if found necessary the
office force would write letters result
ing In untanging little details that have
held up payments.
b Mrs. Henry G. Boyer is chairman of
this section of the work. Her commit
tee is Mrs. Gibson Bell, Mrs. Francis d.
Lewis, Mrs. Louis G. Madeira, Henry
II. Bonnell, George Wentworth Carr,
John s Newbold and j. Percy Heating,
n Under Mrs. Boyer's supervision are
twelve paid stenographers and clerks,
together with ninety volunteers, who
give all their time and part time in
proper investigation of the cases that
come to their notice.
Plan TO Raise Morale
u Families have. moved from houses
with high rents to smaller apartments
to cut down expenses. Physicians and
hospital attention also have been pro-
vided.
The whole plan. according to Mrs.
Boyer. is TO raise the morale of the men
In the service of Uncle Sam and keep
il high. for she feels that If a man fight
ing for the United States knows that
his wife, mother or other dependents
are well provided for his spirit will be
of the best.
She explained that letters had been
received from time to time from men
whose dependents have been temporarily
assisted, expressing thanks and graft
tude for the interest shown by the Red
Cross. e.