The Washington times., 1919-12-28
FINISH FIGHT
ON WAR RISK
Senator Smoot Determined to
Abolish Overwhelmingly
: Jones Would Save II.

It's to be a bout to a finish be-
tween Director ChOmeley-Jon ones OF tlIv
Bureau Of War Risk Insurance and
Senator Reed Smoot of Utah.
Assurances from Director Chomeley-
Jones that the clerical force of the
bureau is to be reduced TO 10000 be-
tween now and January 1 by the ad-
ditional dismissal Of nearly 1000 en-
ployes, will not serve TO bulge Sena-
tor Smoot one inch from his determin-
alton to leg slate the War Risk Bu-
reau out of existence, scattering its
activities among the various depart
ments OF the Government.
Last Desperate Effort.
IOn October 23. last there were
1894 employees on the rolls of the
bureau" Senator Smoot declared to-
day. 81 have been promised by Di-
rector Chomeley-Jones that by Jan
uary ] there will be only 10000 re-
naming on the rolls. So my fight
has resulted in the separation of
more than 5000 employees from the
bureau during that time"
With abolishment OF the bureau
staring him in the face, Director
Chomeley-Jones is making last des-
perate effort to stave off impending
dismissals OF employees.
1T will make no difference to me
Senator Smoot declared. am go
ing ahead with my bill to abolish the
War Risk Bureau altogether and turn
over it's duties to the various depart
nents of the Government"
Fight For Soldiers
Il am not making a fight against
Director Chomeley-Jones. i am night
ing on behalf of the soldiers.
Il expect to save S10.OO0,000 each
year through my plan to reorganizs
the work of the bureau.
BY transferring the duties OF the
bureau to various Government de-
that 5000 additional employees would
be the maximum limit that would be
required.
F1E~res Lowest Limit.
We would allow the Postoffice De-
partment 1000 extra employees to help
collect the premiums on insurances,"
said Senator Smoot; "an additional
force of 500 would be required by the
Pension Bureau to handle compen-
sation cases, and 1000 more would
be divided between the War and Navy
Departments, under my plan, to help
take care OF the allotments to fami-
lies.
The postorice officials tell me that
they would not require anywhere
near 1000 additional employees but in
making my estimates ! have figured
on 5000 as the highest possible limit"
Senator Smoot declared that he
would introduce his bill to abolish
the Bureau OF War Risk Insurance
soon after Congress reassembles jan
nary ).
Need Of Reorganization.
sFor one thing the vocational
board ought to be reorganized i'm
mediately. So far II has done prac-
tically nothing. Almost all of the
money has been spent on salaries and
administration. Some OF the soldiers
are in a deplorable plight There is
a man in Salt Lake City that the
War Risk Bureau keeps insisting is
dead. although his wife has repeated
ly written that he is alive. Letters
are ignored; soldiers simply can't get
their cases attended to. / am deter
mined that the soldiers shall be given
just and fair treatment and it's or
their behalf that I'm making this
night"
Senator Smoot's bill will nnd
strong support in the Senate when
he calls IL up. Among his staunch-
est supporters Will pe MS lDemOCratlC
collea que. Senator King. who believe
that the bureau force should be cut
Immediately to between 5000 and
5000 employees.
Work Has Improved
Senator Smoot does not deny that
the work of the bureau has improved
steadily under the direction OF Mr.
Chomeley-Jones, who has been weed
ing out the force ever since last Oc-
tooer.
The collection OF premiums q in
surance policies. which has been such
a difficult problem for the bureau, h,
points out. could be handled more ef-
nciently and with greater prCmptness
by establishing branch offices in all
the postnffices of the country Sol
diers living in remote districts could
pay theD premiums monthly at the
postorice window. Senator Smoot
points out without encountering all
the danger and de'ay due to checks
and money orders being lost in trans.
mission through the mails to Wash
ngton.