El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-15

FAMILY in want because soldiers allotment has
u not been paid BY the government must have It's
4 hours Of bitterness as well its days Of deprya
tcn feel that the government IS negieetu 1t
must think patriotism is being penazed Wife, mother OF
children seeing other people going about their daily affairs
prosperous and spending money freely, must nave the
feeling that the family which Goes not offer lie to defend
the country is the rewarded It is dangerous mental
slough Of dependency Intensified and multiplied by mil
lions millions people concerned produced the
downfall of Russia because misreated army and their
deprived families refused to support the cars government
There is no danger Of country becoming another
Russia because the American troops well treated as to
themselves and their families not being deprived OF
their aotments through any crookednes In time they
viii receive every penny due them. It is the very great
delay to which objection is now being and which has
resulted in evidence of distress in all parts Of the country
where soldiers dependents reside.
There are wives and other dependents in Ell Paso who
have received aotmens for two or even three months
none at al, IN fact, since their soldier husbands or
fathers entered the military service. With the allotment
they could live decenty with rigid economy Without it,
they poverty stricken indeed The situation has be-
known only very gradually for soldiers families gen.
orally proud ana independent dreading charity and
suffering rather than ask for it. They have not hesated
however to write their relatives in the army of how
they being deprived and this has caused the soldiers
20 suffer in turn soldier cannot put the right spirit
into his when worried by the thought that wife and
children hungry and out Of fuel and are about to be
eced because the rent has not been paid especially when
this condition could have been avoided had the de-
parment been prompt with the payments It promised him
when he went into the army
Civilians and soldiers have written their representatives
in congress thhs matter Senators and representa-
tves have been receiving letters about 1t Tor two months
At last appearance before the senate military commit
tee secretary Of Baker asked about it He ad
mied there had been serious delays in the payment OF
aoments but said due chiefly to the time required
for computing them, varying they do with the amount
each soldier himself aots out Of his pay to the support
Of his dependents Careful checking necessary he said
nasmueh had been found in instances that SOL
ders in order to sotments had named actual
dependents persons who bore bona bde relation OF de-
pendency while other instances addresses Of dependents
had been incorrect and It impossible to trace them
The secretary gave the impression, however that the
tanges been Strengthened out and that the period Of
delays was past.
More than one family here knows that Mr. Baker spoke
with his usual OPTIMISM putting better face the sua-
ton than it deserved The delays ended because
the payments have not received dependents TO
continue months behind N receipt of their payments there
is nothing to which they look forward but indefinite
period Of pvao broken and then by the receipt OF
long delayed check The wife Of soldier, whose allot-
Tent and government allowance is about $50 month,
Gently attempted suicide Fort Bliss because she is
peunIess and does wish to beg. She has aotments
for several months due her There doubtless many
others Just as detected
The country appreciates the magnitude Of the task the
war department has taking Of all the affairs Of
tremendously expanded magnetism ike trying to operate
great machine with small and not very efficient engine
Nevertheless since the first duty the government to
its army take of the and their dependents
effort should be spared to sraghteu out this mudde
the interest Of morale Of the troops if not for humane
consideration those payments ought TO be made
There is disposition it is noted, the part of army
paymasters to blame the delay the department