Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-28
WAR RISK BUREAU
CUTS 7O,OOOOFF
DEPENDENTS LIST
Action Follows Investigation
Showing Allotment Claims
E: Are UnWarranted.
EXPLAINS COMPLAINTS
OF DELAY IN PAYMENT
Charges That Mail Is Neglected
and Employees Shirk Work Re-
futed by Officials.

Widespread complaints charging
the bureau Of war risk insurance
with delays in paying allotments and
family allowances to soldiers de-
pendents concern for the most part
cases in which such payments have
not been delayed, but have been cut
of. it was learned today.
In all more than 10000 monthly al
lowances heretofore paid by the gov
ernment have been suspended, follow
ing investigations which disclosed
the fact that the alleged dependents
were not actually dependent. or that
the allotments and allowances far ex-
ceeded the amounts previously con-
tributed by the enlisted men before
they entered the service. the basis
upon which the law requires that the
allowances be paid.
In the vast majority OF cases the
examinations are based on replies to
questions made by the benefoiar1es
themselves The government is not
concerned with the amount soldier
sends to his family, but when he
makes an allotment because of alleged
dependency, and then claims fed
eral allowance to supplement that. it
does draw the line II his claims are
found to be unwarranted.
1t was explained that most Of the
cases disallowed after investigation
disclose no attempt on the part OF the
men to defraud the government. but
arose because Of a misapprehenSion
as to what constituted dependency
under the war risk insurance act or
from misunderstanding of the law.
Sample Case Is Cited.
AS an example, many young men
had contributed previously to their
families. hut In many :ca1es'- that par
ticular family was buying a house,
paying for q piano or other furniture
on the, instailment plan. and this
poses than. their support Such con-
tributions were held not to have been
for support. In many cases contrtou-
tions were made by young men living
with their parents. but 1t was he,d e.
went for board and lodging.
The officials of the bureau are con-
siderably concerned regarding certain
charges which reflect not only on the
conduct of the bureau. but upon the
thousands of loyal. hardworking and
faithful employees. Many of these en-
ployes came to Washington out of
patriotic sense OF duty. They came
TO render a war service here. and they
have rendered. under very trying and
hard conditions, most faithful and ef-
Ecient service" was stated.
On. of the statements which has
had wide publicity was to the effect
that most of the $4,000 employees of
the bureau did not average a real
ment was that members of the night
force Of the bureau were accustomed
to report at o'clock and then go
away to the theater or movies prac-
ticalfy at will ohicials state that
foundation. and that they are an un-
warranted slur upon the patriotic en-
ployes Of the bureau.
Absences Are Recorded.
A time system Is used at the bu-
reau's buildings, by which tardiness
and absences are recorded. The night
force Is checked up just as accurately
mitted to leave without his name
being recorded and his absence being
noteu and charged up against him.
Members Of the day force have
Some. Of them have had no leave Of
absence whatever. While the law con-
templates ordinarily thirty days leave
of absence for employees, no employees
of the bureau have been allowed more
than two weeks leave.
AS sample Of the generous and
whole-hearted support of the employees,
it was pointed out that just before
Christmas there were 200 applications
from clerks who had leave coming to
them to go home for the holidays
These clerks we're appealed to to with
draw these applications because of the
heavy pressure of the bureaus work.
and IS per cent of them did so. in spite
upon the leave coming to them after
December 81. Such instances might be
cited as one group of employees. con-
sisting of several hundred. who work.
cd continuously not only all OF the
regular day. but all the next night, and
and o'clock the next day, a few
of them for thirty-six hours con-
tinuously. with only time out for
meals.
No Mail Left Unopened.
Another charge which has been
given wide publicity throughout the
country. was that there were 100000
letters in the bureau. and that many
of them had not been opened. This
charge is declared to be without
foundation. Letters are not allowed
10 go unopened in any case more than
a few hours after they reach the bu-
reau. The correspondence problem of
the bureau has been one of its most
difficult ones to handle, and largely
because of the difficulty of Identify
ing the enlisted men about whom
people are writing.
The daily mail now Is running be-
tween 10000 and $4,000 letters daily,
and including discharge notices and
applications the mail sometimes ex-
ceeds 100000 pieces a day. 1t is
admitted, and was announced at
the time. that there was a delay in
sending out September and October
checks This was due to the infiu-
enza, which affected the bureau en-
ployes more seriously than many
other government Offices. In the dis
bursting Office there were about 20 pei
cent Of the employees away on &C.
count of illness for a time.
An additional difficulty was ex.
perienced with the addressograph ma
chimes. which was explained by the
shortage of good materials and the
lack Of skilled mechanics, which seri-
ously interfered with the quality Of
the machinery and plates used. In
this connection there were letters un.
answered. They concerned complaints
Of the tardiness Of the September ana
October checks. Instead Of taking
Continued: On ITeath- -Raca3