The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-02-29
j. {. RELIEF
EN[)EDBY
N|'CARL.
Comptroller Generals Decision
Affects 100 Local
Beneficiaries.

Because Of a ruling by Comp.
troller General McCarl, more than
100 local beneficiaries of the
United States Employees Compen-
sation Commission, governmental
relief organization, will no longer
receive their checks from the Gov
eminent.
Last Checks Discussed.
The checks sent out today by the
commission were the last that win
be disbursed until Congress has
either overridden the decision of
the Comptroller General or has
given the commission other funds
from which to pay the grants.
More than 5000 Government en-
ployes who have been disabled In
the Government service are affectet,
by the ruling. Many Of them are
absolutely dependent upon the
stipend that the Government com
mission has awarded them, and
oil.
members Of the commission today
predicted.
Cases Refused Comptroller.
The ruling Of the Comptroller
General was given after the com.
mission had refused to send to his
office for review several cases
which he had asked for. The com.
mission denies the right of the
Comptroller General to review any
| OF its decisions or awards.
The beneficiaries draw sc per
cent OF their active pay, though in
no case can the award total more
than $66.67 a month.
The commission dilemma can only
be righted by a Congressional an.
preparation, or by direct authorize.
ton OF the Congress that the Comm.
troller General has not the right
to review the decisions Of the com.
mission.
In every local case, It was said
today, the beneficiaries were badly
in need Of the checks. Many OF
the disabled employees have large
families, and some Of them have
no other means of support.
The letter Of the Commission sent
to the beneficiaries in explanation
or the stoppage OF the checks fol-
lows:
Payments Cut Off.
1.-THE commission regrets to have
to notify you that the Comptroller
General, by decision Of February
II, 1924, has refused to permit its
discussing officer to draw. any more
money from the employees com.
pensation fund. The Comptroller
Generals reason for this refusal Is
that the commission has declined
to submit to him the evidence upon
which awards and payments had
been made in cases which he de-
sired to review. Upon the opinion
Of Acting Attorney General Sey.
mour, the commission denied the
right OF the Comptroller General to
review its findings and awards.
The result Of this action Of the
Comptroller General will be that no
payments Of compensation, includ.
ing medical and hospital expenses.
can be made after the funds now in
the hands Of the commissions dis,
bursting officer are exhausted, which
Will be on or about February 20.
THE next check which you will
receive from the commission on or
about February 20, will, therefore,
be the last which can be paid you
until some action is taken by Con.
gress authorizing payments in spite
OF this recent decision of the comp
troller general. An amendment to
the compensa ton law in accor.
dance with the construction Of the
law as made by the commission
and the Attorney General is now
before the Senate and House com.
mittees on the judiciary, and the
senators and Congressman will be
urged to take action as promptly
as possible. 1t is hoped that Con.
gress may be made to see the i'm.
portance OF speedy action in view
OF the very great hardship which
peneficiaries Of the compensation
law will suffer IL the compensation
payments upon which they are
necessarily depending are DELAYED. /"