River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1919-01-09
Our Weekly Letter
From Washington
(By James A. Frear, NJ. Co.


ing the past few weeks with letters
and kilograms from constituents re-
garding their boys who are in SER
vice. or who have been killed. Sad
holidays have come to many people
Of our State, but the feeling OF re-
lief and gratitude that the war is
over. and that so many lives have
been spared comes as Holiday
erecting to thousands Of our people.
Christmas Holidays have never
carried more significance during the
past half century than at this time
when the world is thankful that the
war is over and that militarism has
been def Gated, let US hope for all
time. Hundreds of letters and
kilograms have been received dur
ing these weeks asking about boys IN
this country or abroad, cases of in
surance where death has ensued or
for money allotments to dependents
where they still live. Anxiety to
have boys brought home has brought
countless letters and in some other
cases parents have not yet learned
for a certainty the fate Of their boys
because Of conflicting reports re-
ceived from the Department.
During the past week, severe ar
raignment has occurred in both House
and Senate over the mistakes Of the
Casualty, War Risk Insurance and
other bureaus and over delay in
rehabilitation Of our troops. Elk
cuse is offered that until the war is
officially declared over. troops are
needed for cantOnments here and
for police service abroad until the
Governments future policy is de-
termined, but Congress is inquirlng
with more insistence daily why the
bows cannot be brought home with
out needless delay This brief state
ment is offered in reply to many
letters from the District which ask
for information on the subject, and
which are replied to in every case.
A personal letter from Secretary
of War Baker, written several weeks
ago gave assurance of early action
and promised that rehabilitation
was proceeding as rapidly as possible
but red tape and War Department
methods are proverbial and may
continue until something comes
along to cut the tape.
The Federal Board of Vocational
Training has been actively engaged
in hunting up men who were dis
abled or injured during the war and
who reqire aid. | have many COM
munications received on the subject
both from those needing aid and
from the bureau. No better work
can be performed at this time than
the rehabilitation Of men who have
been disabled during the war. They
are promised training that will make
them self-supporting all at Govern
ment expense and they should avail
themselves of the right.
Examinations are to be held Sat-
urday, January 25th at Chippewa
Falls and Hudson, opposite sides of
the District, when the State Civil
Service Commission will conduct
examinations for one appointment
to West Point and two appointments
to Annapolis Naval Academy. There
is the possibility of a third appoint
ment to Annapolis, and these appoint
ments carry at least two alternates
in each case, providing the principal
fails to pass the Academy examina-
ton, so there is a good chance for
a half dozen or more boys any one
of whom may secure one of these
convicted plums. No better train
ing caa be had for the fortunate
boy who passes the final examination
than taaC given by the Government
at West Point and Annapolis.
An echo of the election occurred a
few days ago when the writer was
given the Floor to address the
House on a resolution introduced for
the investigation of the New York
Security leagues activities during
the last election. The resolution
went through the committee un-
animously and by an unprecedented