The sun., 1919-05-19

or fail for lack OF IL Having bean un-
able to make the Secretary understsnd
In any other way the gravity of the
situation. deemed Il my obvious duty
70 the service To speak plainly. This
determination I confirmed in my let
ter to Mr.. Shouse OF April .. since
wnen the entire matter has been held
IN apeyance according to the Secretary's
letter of April 10.
For tho sake OF the millions of SOL
diers and sailors and their dependents,
l am greatly concerned lest the Treas.
ory's policy towards the bureau 40
cripple It's work as to impair their rights
unoer the war risk insurance act and
mus cause untold hardship and suf-
fering."
Part OF Correspondence.
The correspondence that led TO Col.
Lindsley's resignation was started by
letter from him to the Secretary
April ., which was in part az follows:
MY settled conviction that the Bureau
OF war Risk Insurance 10 on the verge
Oh breakdown and failure, which would
% alike disgrace to the Administra-
ton and the cause of physical distress
IN millions OF American homes, compels
me 70 solicit your personal attention and
consideration in the solution OF certain
problems over which have no control
i nave reference to an acute situa-
ton arising out OF the relationship be-
tween this bureau and the Treasury De-
psrtment, which 10 to-day my sole cause
OF worry for the future of the bureau
me Internal administrative difficulties
which 1 Inherited when I became the
head OF this organization are being met
and solved. 1 am prepared at least TO
take full responsibility for that end of
the work and feel able to handle Il in
a manner that will be q credit to YOU as
mead OF the Treasury Department and
satisfactory to the four millions OF mon
and their dependents for whose service
the bureau was created.
But cannot be responsible, Mr.: Sec
rotary, Tor the success OF this bureau IN
so far as success depends upon sur
mounting obstacles which are beyond my
control. / cannot be charged with such
null responsibility unless am given the
full authority necessary 10 meet it. The
ultimate responsibility being yours ana
knowing that you look to me for q sue
cessful administration Of this office I
conceive It to my duty TO point out to
you fully and frankly how and where
these external limitations arise and their
effect upon tho bureau in order that you
may have the opportunity through the
exercise OF your own authority to re-
move them.
Need Of Cooperation.
Briefly I am prepared to state that
the bureau cannot live without the con-
tinuance, helpful cooperation of the
Treasury Department in those matters
where an administrative control Is exer-
cised through your office ! do not
doubt the necessity OF such administra-
tive control of the various Treasury
bureaus as IL maintained through the
confirmation OF appointments and ex-
penditures which is q responsibility put
upon you by the law. My criticisms run
to the manner in which the control Ia
exercised.
THE communications receive from
the Treasury Department are as q rule
negative or destructive, suggesting rea-
sons why things cannot be done, re-
questing minute details, postponing
final action and requiring the time Of
the director or his staff to handle minor
matters at the expense of the major
problems OF the bureau. I will explain
more fully tho nature Of these criticisms
below.
First in the matter Of the confrma-
ton OF appointments. promotions and
salary readJustments recommended by
the director Of this bureau.
You will recall the impression you
had OF the lack Of organization in the
bureau at the time became its direc-
tor. and you certainly realise that the
work Of building up an organization
Is the most difficult single problem which
has confronted me. ! felt Justified when
] accepted the responsibility of this Of
nee in assuming that 1t carried full au-
thority TO select and engage for the SER
| vice OF the bureau the most competent
assistants and executives that could be
In n
might make subject to proper salary
and ultimate budget limitations would
| be confirmed promptly and as q matter
| of course. I INDUCED this assumption
| because believed and do still believe
| that such authority must 60 with the
| responsibility. and l undertook the work
| on this understanding.
Tried to BE Helpful.
'I have tried faithfully. and the mem
| bers Of my staff who are equally inter
ested in building up tho most efiicient
| organisation have tried to anticipate
| every technical requirement of the offi-
| cials Of the Treasury Department, and
my recommendations have gone forward
| to the Treasury only when I have been
| satisfied to accept the fullest personal
| responsibility therefor. We have spared
no pains to be helpful on our part; to
| assist the Treasury Department to per-
| form its duties.
The result Of three months expert
ence is discouragins and gives rise to
my statement at the beginning Of this
| letter that this bureau Is threatened
| with collapse from lack OF cooperation
! from the Treasury Department In mat
| ters which are Of the most vital i'm
portance to the bureau"
The director then cites q number OF
examples of necessary appointments
| long delayed and continues:
| "a matter OF equal Importance to that
of filling the major Legislative positions
| within the bureau Is that OF erecting a
prompt and equitable readjustment OF
salaries throughout the bureau. Last
| Friday I took up with Mr.. shonts a
memorandum prepared by w. c.
| Fletcher, chief OF the accounting divi-
sion, calling attention to the fact that
he is losing many of his most valuable
| EMPLOYEES because of the unjust treat
ment accorded them, which illustrates
| the necessity Of dealing with situation
| Inherited by me when I came in the
bureau Briefly, this situation is as fol-
| lows:
some months ago the bureau OF
| efficiency worked out g. standardization
1 of the salaries OF the employees OF the
! bureau, which work was approved by
the Treasury Department and was In
\ stalled in part found that the sched-
| ules OF increases and adjustments al
ready agreed upon had not been regu-
larly applied but that some divisions had
1