The Washington herald., 1918-12-12
ARMY RAPED
FOR FAILURE
0PAY men
Wounded Soldiers Sent
Across Country Penni-
less, Mann Charges.
DELINQUENCY GENERAL
Many Inmates of Hospitals
Have Received No Money
for Months.

Sharp attacks on the delinquency of
the War Department in paying or
soldiers were voiced on the floor of
/ the House yesterday.
Representative James r. Mann, of
Illinois. Republican floor leader, read
a telegram vigorously protesting
against the failure of the army at
thorities TO provide properly for the
comfort of several hundred wounded
men recently returnd to this country.
| The telegram came from a HOSPITAL in
West Baden. Ind. to which these men
had been sent from the port of de-
barkation. Ii said:
Several hundred wounded men havs
arrived in West Baden with no funds.
] They have had no pay for several
months. Is there no way to provide
wounded men with funds when they
disembark?'
Mr.. Mann characterized this case as
public scandal"
This money has been due these
men for months" he said. "and not a
cent has been paid to them. And hers
| they are sent from the port of de-
barkation to Southern Indiana with
not cent i'm their pockets
| This matter was taken up with the
War Department. Yesterday they said
| If We could give them the names of
| these men they would look into the
matter and try to get their money TO
them"
Says It's Not up to Men.
Wounded men confined in a hos
| pital cannot trace UP their pay rec
ords- They are not physically able,
and are not in a position to prepare
this data for the army authorities.
1t is the duty of the War Depart
ment to make adequate provision to
meet such emergencies rs this.
These men who have offered their
lives for their country have earned
their money. and the War Depart
ment should see that they get il
promptly"
Representative Butler. OF Pennsyl-
vania. agreed with the statements
of Mr.. Mann regarding arrears in
soldiers pay.
! There is a general complaint of
this kind" he said. at is an out
rage that such a condition should
/ be allowed to exist. There is no
excuse for it"
! Representative Sherley stated that
he had suggested to the War De-
partment officials that a system Of
coupon books be adopted. so that
when a man became separated from
his unit. and was without funds. he
could cash these coupons. The
money used in this way would be
deducted from the soldiers pay.
The Quartermaster Corps advised
me that they were endeavoring to
put such a plan into effect" said Mr..
Sherley. From what the gentle
men have said here today. however,
it is plain that this has not been
done. I agree that there is no eX-
cuse for such a state of affairs. OF
course. some instances of this kind
are bound to occur. but there is no
occasion for a general number of
such cases"
| Charges Outrageous Waste.
Representative Gillet of Massachu-
setts charged the War Department
with Outrageous waste" in continu-
ing to make powder in emergency
powder factories.
This practice should stop, even II
they have to pay the workmen while
idle, rather than use coal and raw
materials in the manufacture of some
sthing We don't need. something we
have too much of now" he said.
The attacks on the War Department
were made during debate on a bill by
! Chairman Sherley of the Appropria-
tions Committee to provide transpor-
tation home for war workers being
dismissed in Washington. The bill
was passed without a roll-call.
! Representative Walsh of Massachu-
setts opposed the bill on the ground
that no privilege should be enjoyed by
| civilian government employees which
is not extended to the men in the
armed branches. He charged that
men are discharged from the Navy
! CONTINTrED M PACE TFN