The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-15
HEROES BODIES
TOY OF POLITICS
Swarm Of Youths Sent for
Service on French Graves
Commission.
LITTLE WORK, MUCH PLAY
PrOteges Of U. S. Congressman
Receive $4,000 q Year i'm
Place Of Army Men.
LITTLE WORK, MUCH PLAY

New York Herald Bureau.
Paris, Nov. IL.
The greatest defect in organization
Of the United States Graves Registra-
zion Service here Hes in the swarm OF
inexperienced and inefficient youths
who have been wished on the service
by Democratic Representatives and
Senators. Three hundred-odd have
been sent to France SO far on sort OF
political JOY ride.
The three hundred are instructed to
help where they can." but their as
sistance seems TO be confined to the
most meagre clerical details. while the
actual work of supervision Is still con-
trolled by army officers assigned from
Coblenz, and the work of exhumation
is done entirely by French labor. But
the clerks from the United States draw
salaries of $4,000 annually. which at
present exchange rates enables them
90 live a lordly life. with little atten-
tion to their real duties.
Army Men Rejected.
Naturally. this condition Is arousing
considerable comment here, especially
since it has been learned TINT Wash
ington has refused to reemploy former
army officers who have been demobilzed
and who have had valuable experience
IN the Graves Registration Service, un-
less they accept army pay. which in
many cases is 40 per cent. lower than
that accorded the proteges OF the Demo-
cratic Administration.
The bitterest comment comes from
the members of the American Legion
post here. Several hundred legion mem
bers have established homes here and
are willing TO work Mt French rates of
pay. but their applications have met
with no response from Washington. In
stead. every ship that sails for France
seems to be bringing more youngsters
who have never seen the battle fronts
and whose interest in the careful
handling of intricate graves work is
therefore not as sincere as that OF the
legion members.
Just why the salaries OF these clerks
have been fixed at $4,000 is uncertain
as 'he regulations of the Graves Regis
tration Service provide for only $4,000.
Soldiers on duty overseas are always
allowed an additional 10 per cent. bu,
il is considered unusual that this privi-
lege should be accorded TO civilian Office
help while the prohibitive salary sched-
ules restrict the return Of real soldiers
TO work in which they proved their value
before they were demoblized
According to information in the hand
OF legion officials here. scores of Lieu
xtghA y
a year have been demobilized from the
Graves Registration Service. They un-
derstood thoroughly all the details of
liason with the French Government.
were familiar with train schedules and
routings. In short could have facilitated
greatly the work OF the Graves Regis
tration Service. TO which they were at
tached by natural sentiment. But when
they asked unemployment the War De-
partment decided their civilian efforts
were not worth more than their army
pay. They might have accepted even
this II Democratic Congressman had not
grasped the opportunity To provide easy
Jobs for political friends and AZ the
same time give 5000 annually more than
the salary prescribed for men who had
"C1utter Up" Service.
The present morale OF the Graves
Registration Service easily can be lmae.
ined. Few OF these clerical recruits have
any knowledge Of other trades and pro-
fessions and the result is, to use the
words OF one official. "the service is
clrttered up with them They have been
given the simplest. lghtest work and
have 70 be watched constantly lest their
ignorance lead TO serious errors"
At present the exhumat,ons arc a.
rected by several groups. each of which
preserves unity In It's administration. A
srecial corps OF embalmers -ssigned 10
tho cemeteries IL doing splendid work
the only delays being due TO the short
age OF collins AMI the difficulties of
transportation caused by the conEested
French railway conditions. AT the rorts
doughboys from the force on the Rhine
guard the bodies and load them as ehips
are available. All along the line there
Is spirit OF reverence in handling the
work
While Col. Harry Rethers. director "
the Graves Service headquarters here
Is tlrclcss In devising means to better
the service. blame for criticism of the
service can be traced TO Washington
officials who. when asked for good, re-
liable men to replace experienced tenn
rorary officers who were unwilling TO
continue the work on minimum salaries
sent over patches OF youths with glow
ing recommendations from Democratic
Congressman. but little else in the way
OF business proficiency