The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-07-31
CONGRESS TOPROBE
WAR RISK BUREAU
from First Psge.)

Continued from First Pege.)
Department and be administered oy
the Pension Bureau.
The House committee will submit
in its report arguments pro and con
on these proposals.
In Congressman William L. An
drews, of Nebraska, the committee
has a member who is thoroughly
conversant with the workings OF the
Treasury Department and in a gem
eral way with the War Risk Bureau
and the marine and seamen's insur-
ance that was in effect before the
United States entered the late war.
Probe Along Two Lines.
Mr.. Andrews was for eighteen
years with the Treasury Department,
serving in the capacity of. auditor.
The investigation, Mr.. Andrews
says, will be conducted along two
lines, one investigation will have to
do with the marine and seamen
insurance and the other with the
War Risk Insurance Bureau, which
came into beginning little over two
years ago.
Those who oppose the Govern
ment going into the insurance bust
ness, would say that since we are
in it, it is up to us to see it through
In the interest of our boys who went
to war" Mr. Andrews says.
Many soldiers met with misfor-
tune during the war; lost leg or an
arm or were otherwise incapacitated.
It is up to the Government to stick
to them for the remainder of their
lives.
I'm this investigation. we shall
aim at getting that maximum as
sistance toward placing the bureau
on a sound economical basis"
1t is said that few if any members
of either the House or the Senate
have not received letters complaining
about aIlotments made by soldiers
sailors and marines through the War
Risk Bureau.
what House Wants to Know.
The House committee in making its
investigation will seek to ascertain
certain information by asking Ques-
tions something like this:
What have been the total receipts
and disbursements of the bureau?
What is the amount Of insurance
covered by certificates already is
sued?
What is the amount of insurance
asked for by applications that have
not been granted?
It is known that the committee ex-
poets to find that more applications
have been filed for insurance than
certificates have been granted. In
other words, the bureau is so far be-
hind in its work that the applications
have piled up by the thousands.
Some Other Questions.
Other questions will be as follows:
t. he fnfo nf
ance covered by certificates and ap-
plications?
Mr.. Andrews estimates this figure
will be more than S40,O00,0OO.
The committee is eager to get at
the facts as to the report that from
two-thirds to three-fourths of those
holding certificates have allowed
them to lapse.
To get this information those at the
head of the bureau will be asked:
How many policies are in full
force and how many have lapsed?"
What is the total amount paid to
date on losses?" is another question
the committee will ask.
VIII Probe Management.
The committee also expects to in
uuire into what amount has been COW
cred into the Treasury by the War
Department and by the Navy De-
partment.
While an inquiry along this line is
primarily an investigation of the
finances of the bureau, IL will neces-
sarily be an inquiry into the manage
ment Of the bureau.
For several months, the War Risk
Bureau has been the target of many
attacks both in and out of Congress.
amy member of Congress and any
beneficiary under the War Risk In
surance act will have the privilege
of laying his claims before the House
committee" Mr.. Andrews announces.