New-York tribune., 1919-05-21
"Rreakdown'' of Bureau and
Impending Inquiry Be
lieved 10 Have Influenced
Resignation of Secretary
Numerous Troubles Arise
Orsanization Tried to
Shoulder Too Big a Load,
Is View of Official
By Theodore NJ. knappen

WASHINGTON, May 2O.-ln connec-
ton with the proposed Congressional
Investigation OF the War Risk Insur-
ance Bureau, made certain of an early
beginning by the resignation of Colonel
Henry B. Lindsley as director of the
bureau, it was asserted to-day by an
official familiar with the origin of the
soldiers compensation and insurance
project that the real reason of William
G. McAdoos resignation from the Cab-
net was the breakdown" of the bureau
last fall under its too heavy load
1t was explained that Mr. McAdoo
was in the beginning tremendously i'm
pressed with the undertaking, not only
because of its patriotic and practical
utility, but as a factor in his political
fortunes, the theory being that as the
father of the scheme he would win
wide and lasting popularity with the
soldiers and their families and friends.
Being able to see about as far into
political fog as anybody, Mr.. McAdoo
is represented as desiring to disso-
ciate himself with the origin of the
undertaking when the bureau fell into
popular disfavor on account of the
numerous troables over allowances,
allotments, compensation and insur-
ance, there being. perhaps. hundreds of
4hovrorjr Of o-
delays, etc. What had been put for
ward as generous measure that would
win the undying gratitude of the
soldiers and their friends was. because
OF administrative difficulties, experien-
cling an entirely different reaction
Undertook Too Much
The official above mentioned, whose
name is withheld for obvio~s reasons, |
says the initial cause of the war risk |
bureaus troubles was that it under |
took too much. The idea of a COM
prehensive scheme of allotments, allow
ances, compensation and insurance was
first outlined by Judge Julian W Mack |
OF Chicago, who came to Washington
early in 1917 as sort of volunteer
war worker. The Department of Labor
was the first TO take up the idea At
that time it was proposed to have the
army and navy look after alotments
and allowances, the pension bureau
attend to compensations and the war
risk bureau, which was then handling /
war rlsl; marine Insurance only, take +
up the Insurance feature
When the plan was brought to Mr.
MeAdoo's attention. according to the
aame source Of Information. it looked
too promising Of popularity to be d.
vided. SO presently. much to the sur
prise Of some of the original counsel
lors, be sert to Congress, with the
Fresldent's approval and with the in
Junction that it must be in no wav
changed, the bill of the present law.
lntrusting he administration of the
triple scheme to the embryonic war
FISK bureau Of the Treasury Depart
ment. 1t is asserted that if the ex-
perlenced pension bureau had handled
'ne compensation and the army and
navy allotments (they being internally
related to soldiers pay), leaving insur-
ahce to the war risk bureau, most of
'ne subseQuen. history of error and
confusion would have been avoided.
II Is now suggested, and number
o. members Of Congress are consider
ne 'ne suggestion and collecting data
iesaFqing il, that compensations
should even now De turned over to the
pension bureau, it IS stated that with
us experienced executive and admin
,S1ratiVe organization, it's medical
O0afos all over the country, and lis
eAper' medical advisers. it would take
Vn Inc whole COM mpensation job with
ou' slight increase OF its present
personnel Of about 500 and conduct it
better than at present