The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1924-06-24
UNCLE SAM FACES BIG
JOB DISTRIBUTING BONUS
MILLIONS OF WORLD WAR
SOLDIERS ARE PREPARING
TO FILE APPLICATIONS.
HUGE STAFF FACES REAL TASK
War Department Has Thousands of
Clerks and Other Workers Ready
To Check Up Soldiers Records
With Government Data.

WASHINGTON, D. C.-If Her
cules, hero of many mythical labors
which other men could not equal,
were alive today venerable Uncle Sam
would hire him in minute to perform
one of the most difficult Jobs which
has appeared on the national calendar
in many years-the task of paying the
soldier bonus
Failure of congress to pass the
emergency deficiency bill, with its APP
preparations of the soldier bonus law,
will not delay this work, it is pointed
out in Washington. Administration
leaders declare that all necessary pre-
liminary expenses can be met some
how, and the deficit made up at the
opening of the next session of con-
gress in December.
Millions to Be Paid.
To pay off 5,5OO,OO0 eligible candi
dates and keep accurate records of
each transaction without errors and
Implications is in itself considerable
task. The magnitude of Uncle Sans
latest business enterprise is compli-
Gated by the fact that among the for
mer soldiers eligible for cash pay
ments or certificates of paid up in
surance there are no less than 50,326
Smiths, 40, 101 Johnsons, 28,9O2
Browns and 27,o38 Williamses. Many
OF these men have the same first and
second names as we'll as last name.
At least q per cent of the doughboys
Ia Il. l., rla1
result of the soldier adjusted compen-
sation act can neither read nor write
the English language.
In a certain building in Washing
ton, which covers one city block and
rises three stories above the curbside,
the war department keeps 10000 vol
luminous fling cases. These cases con-
tain 167,000,000 documents, among
which are the complete records of ev-
cry American soldier who saw ser
vice during the world war. Eight
thousand of the filing cases are
crammed to capacity with soldier rec
ords All this material will have to be
checked over carefully in the settle
ment of the soldier bonus project. The
service record of each applicant will
have to be studied Each man will
have to be identified by his finger
print records The job is tremendous.
More than 5000 extra clerks, stenog
raphers and typists will be employed
to aid in the bonus work.
Cost of Work Huge.
Officials of the war department say
that it will cost about $4,500000 to
administer the bonus law. A few more
than 100000 men performed actual
military service OF these 2,058,0O0
did duty both in the United States
and abroad, while the rest never serv-
ed overseas The law is so worded
that the maximum cash bonus which
any veteran will receive will be $50,
in lieu OF endowment insurance. The
first 90 days in service will not be
computed, as Uncle Sam granted each
soldier special 500 bonus at the time
of his discharge. The other former
soldiers will be granted paid-up in
surance in the form of 20-year en-
dowment policies, with the amount OF
insurance proportional to service pc
RODS. Uncle Sans representatives re-
port that about 3,250,000 veterans will
be rewarded with paid up insurance
certificates.
The maximum value of one of these
endowment insurance policies will be
about $1,000 for foreign service and
ST 900 for domestic service.
A leading national statistician figures
that the average value of the endow
ment insurance issued will be approx
inately 1902 a policy On this basis
Uncle Sam will distribute S., l26, 500,
900 worth of insurance among the SOL
diers eligible for this particular form
of bonus.
10 Bills Passed to Aid Veterans.
Altogether Is measures were pass
ed during the last session of congress
for the relief and betterment of the
soldiers of the world war The follow
ing eight are of major Importance:
The adjusted compensation bill.
Creation of the committee on world
war veterans legislation of the house
of representatives.
Reed Johnson bill affecting more
than 100000 disabled veterans and
their dependents.
Fernald- Langley bill, authorizing
the construction of $6,500,000 worth
OF UICuCIH HlNpiOOA lOopitdios NOl1AdAAA-
ing 1850 beds; provision for $780,,
900 training school for blind veterans
at Evergreen, Maryland.
A bill, providing for 81, 100000 fire.
proof hospital, containing 500 beds, at
Santa Monica, Cal
House resolution authorizing sur
vey and investigation of world war
veterans hospitals, institutions and
soldiers homes.
Appropriation of $548,0O0 for the
erection of permanent stone crosses
in our overseas cemeteries to. replace
the historic wooden crosses.
War trophies bill to distribute the
vast amount of war material captured
from Germany or surrendered by
Germany.
Aid for 11s,4Oo Disabled.
1t is estimated that the Reed-John-
son bill will confer direct benefits up
on lis, 400 disabled veterans and their
dependents and will cost the govern
ment $33,000000 the first year and
abo,4 S20 000 moo wear thereafter