The sun., 1919-01-11
q. o. P. Leader Scores War
Secretary for Laxity About
Soldiers Money.
RISK CHIEF VERY FRANK
Col. Lindsey Admits Bad Con-
ditiOns-COmmittee Decides
to Halt Resolution.
Special Despdtch to THE SOY.

tive Mann Ills) to the Secretary of
War. made public to-day. The letter
was in answer to one Secretary Baker
had written in explanation.
Col. Henry d. Lindsey recently Gp-
pointed chief of the War Risk Insur-
snce Bureau, was before the House
Rules Committee. which had under con-
sideration a resolution for an investi
cation OF this bureau. Members of the
committee were so impressed with the
frankness of Colone! Lindsey in re-
lsting conditions that action on the reso-
luton was postponed to give him a
chance 10 bring order out of the present
chaos.
Col Lindsey stated that conditions
in the War Risk Insurance Bureau we're
terrible. Members Of the committee
were outspoken after the hearing in
their opinion that Col. Lindsey could
he counted upon to correct conditions as
speedily as possible.
In the letter Secretary Baker wrote
defending the pay and allotment sys-
TEN of the army organization lie said
he felt there is some misunderstanding
IN the matter which in justice to the
War Department should be clarified"
After pointing out that the War De-
artment had jurisdiction only of allot-
ments which do not carry family al
lowances the Secretary declared that the
ullotments payable by the Department
ARE being made promptly and that they
are not in any way in arrears" Cases
OF delay. Mr.. Baker said, ARE few In
number and even in these cases It is
hardly likely that any hardship had re-
suited as these allotments are not made
Tor the benefit of families
Turning to the army pay situation Mr..
Baker wrote: 81 believe this matter
can be best understood by dividing the
mon into two classes-those who re-
who went overseas With reference to
tho men in the United States / wish to
state that during the last year the
troops at the large camps and canon
ments have been paid their monthly
nay in full al an average on the fifth
day Of the month, sometimes earlier
with respect TO the troops overseas
payment has not been made as PROMPTLY
and It Is known that a great many OF
the sick and wounded who are being
returned from overseas and Of whom /
shall speak later in this letter are sew
cal months i'll arrears in their pay"
This failure, the Secretary said, should
be attributed to these men being In the
fighting line and not to lack Of effort BY
the War Department
1t Is not strange. Mr.. Baker said that
the wounded men being returned here
have not been paid. He then recited
the argument heard before that the
service records OF these men were rot
available and the partial payment
plan inaugurated by the Department and
10 civ 1as
pay these men in full on their affidavits
OF the amounts due.
Mann Letter Caustic.
In reply TO this communication Mr..
Mann began by declaring the inefficiency
OF the War Risk Insurance Bureau
would be a burlesque II 1t were not a
tragedy. The letter continued:
Unless the many letters which come
TO me and other members of Congress
misstate the facts you are in error in
believing that the allotments payable by
the War Department are being made
promptly. Nor do ! understand that
the ailotments made by the soldiers are
not made for the benefit OF families.
The allotment, as understand. is made
for the benefit usually of somebody
more or less dependent upon him. even
in cases where there is no family al
1owance by the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance
Il am receiving many complaints from
soldiers who are not receiving their pay
and have not received IL for many
months, though in many cases in dire
need of money. That there is unwar-
ranted delay in the payment of sick and
wounded men coming home Is beyond
question. unless the many soldiers who
nh
bslieve that. The Government is utterly
failing in its responsibility to the SOL
diers and to their dependents in regard
TO pay and allowances. Excuses of course
viii be offered. but what is needed la
attention to the business
MY mail is filled with complaints
and [ am informed the same Ia true of
other members of Congress. These are
hot the only complaints being made
against the War Department While the
Government is maintaining an expensive
system OF Offices under the Department
of Labor to obtain employment for dis
charged soldiers the soldiers in the SER
vice who have employment awaiting
them and where they are needed find II
in many cases difficult or impossible to
get discharges.
Lack of Attention.
TT. IL, l think, just a lack Of proper
attention or proper consideration and
humane concern,
Another matter to which | call YOUR
attention is the refusal OF the War De-
partment to obtain information concern
ing soldiers who are reported as wounded
end referring the men to the American
Red Cross. II soldier under the War
Department has been wounded abroad
and is in hospital OF the United States
abroad surely the War Department
ought TO obtain Information and give IL
30 relatives here instead of advising
relatives to communicate with the Red
Cross. Such action on the part OF the
War Department seems to indicate an
absolute insensibllity to humane feeling
Just as an illustration OF the very
many letters which are being received by
me and others at the Capitol relating TO
payment TO soldiers In hospitals l en-
close you one letter from Sergeant John
J. McAvoy. Company A, 127Lh United
States Infantry. Thirty second Division,
General Hospital 2s. Fort Sheridan, Iii
nois. though I confess / fear to send
such, letters TO the War Department for
fear It will result injuriously to the
soldier.
"Of course a part of his letter refers
90 the failure OF the War Risk Insur-
ance Bureau. but how can you reconcile
your apparent complacent satisfaction
with the pay department OF the army
with the statements in this letter II
they be true?"
Days Custom House Receipts.
Receipts for duties at the Custom
House yesterday were s157.999l2. OF