The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-05
ARMY FAMILIES.
UNPAID, STARVE
Greenwich House Reports 10
Cases Of Destitution Due to
Red Tape Delays.
PITIFUL INSTANCES CITED
Dependents Of Men in Nations
Service Endure Their Suf-
fcrings Bravely.
PITIFUL INSTANCES CITED

\ lad OF eight or nine was making his
way down Barrow street yesterday
afternoon in the biting cold. his slender
body bowed by coal sack which he was
manfully bearing home to a chill apart
ment. lie slipped and went down. a
man picked him up and began asking
questions while he replaced the burden
How is it you have to lug the coal
sonny" he asked.
"Aw. rye got to- the dad said
There's nobudd: else. My fathers Over
to camp ami mother says NC aint 60,
money to have 1t brought. Gee. but it's
cold. Gimme start
So the stranger boosted up the clink-
ing sack and sonny struggled on.
The social workers in Greeuwicl,
House on Barrow street have become
highly indignant over Governmental red
tape during the las. two weeks They
have been makinG an investigates,
/, among families whose sons or fathers
I have been drafted into the service, and
they have found dire suffering because
the pay allotments made by these SOL
uleTb nave 10Y Detn TeCelNeI DS tnelT
dependents The giant coil that binds
the War. Department Offices. they say.
has cut of the livelihood Of many OF
these families.
AllOtments Ions Delayed.
| Seventy cases have been under inves-
tigation. In at least half of these pay
allotments required to be made by the
Government have not been received
| and many are due from men who were
drafted In september or October. In
| families where the father or the eldes,
son was the chief bread winner the blow
bas fallen heaviest. The home folks had
| been prepared to get along osl Less
money, but they placed reliance on the
| Government to zee that specified por.
tions Of the soldier pay were received
Days Of waiting have not brou.ht the
money II Is somewhere in Washington
probably. or perhaps the necessary
reams Of documents are still at cam
headquarters.
In such straits were fifteen familia.
that tho Greenwich House workers ap-
pealed to the Red Cross for aid. These
! families have been impoverished by the
failure Of Washington to send the pay
alIotments. The He'd Cross has met the
situation. and Is providing enough foi
|
BY Government regulation married
MEN called to the colors must allow theiI
wives at least 9i5 a month, and more
| In proportion to the number of children
In addition. the Government 10 required
to pay SIS to the wife. &25 TO wife and
! child. $3.50 II there arc two children
and so on. Single men, sons who were
supporting their mothers and a sisteI
perhaps. are required TO make some al
lotment. .
! The Greenwich House workers dis
covered that the money is not being re-
ceived regularly IN number Of cases
and In some cases none at all has ar
rived. Meanwhile the families. Italiar
and Irish. always fighting against want
but doing SO bravely. have been forced
to call upon social organizations for aid
! ssHering Felix UseenPlsining.
The mothers and wives do not com.
delay" Frank Shinn OF Greenwicf
House said yesterday. They are inclined
instead 10 bite their lip and make thu
best OF il. They cry because they arr
without food or warmth, but they arr
suffering and must have relief"
There was the case OF an ItaliaI
family OF twelve children. all under 20
The oldest son was drafted. The fathe
madc $50 a month washing dishes. IL
volunteered. The mother has had NJ
governmental, support 30 far. Anot,eN
father earned SIS a week. He has son,
and not even the SIS month has beei
forwarded to the wife. A mother Will
two sons In the Rainbow division ha
had no money. although the necessar
papers have been made out. An Itai
Ian woman went to the settiemen
house. saying she had received n
money at all from her soldier husban
and the tradesmen wouldn't extern
crs<lit any longer,