The Washington times., 1919-03-15
ISREADY
ASKINGYEAR'S
PAY FOR ALL
Who SERVED

Give all American soldiers. sail
Ors and marines who have served in
the late war one years additional
pay from the time of their discharge
from active service. This was the
substance of a bill Representative
Baer, independent Republican of
North Dakota, stated today that he
is prepared to urge upon the next
Congress.
81 have indisputable evidence that
an overwhelming number of dis
charged soldiers alone, especially
those with dependents, are in press
ing need of funds to reinstate them
in civil life," Baer declared.
He said his attention had been
called to an increasing delay in the
payment to discharged service men
Of the $50 bonus to which thy were
entitled by a provision of the revenue
bill passed during the final days of
the last Congress.
Must Use Mails.
To secure this bonus the o1-soldier,
the ex-sailor, and the ex-marine must
mail his application for it. with his
discharge papers. to an agency in
Washington Of the War Department
Under such a system. weeks are like
IL TO elapse before a check for $50 is
received by discharged service men
who have returned to parts of the
country remote from Washington.
The American nation owes a debt
TO it's soldiers, sailors, and marines
which must be paid" Baer continued.
Are we to continue to permit men
WHO fought and bled under the Amer
ican flag to become entangled in red
tape? A grave responsibility rests
upon Congress. The last Congress
failed TO enact important Legislation
affecting the immediate and future
welfare of those who saw service in
the war. Let us trust that the next
Congress will speedily pass such
legislation"
Baer expressed regret that Secre-
tary Lanes plan to provide farms
and homesteads for discharged serv-
ice men had failed in the last Con-
gress, as well as other measures which
were intended not only to provide the
discharged American fighter without
means to secure useful employment,
but to create far greater advantages
and opportunities-perm ones
for him than he is now able to find |
when he doffs his uniform"
BRer said he would also introduce l
bill in the next Congress which would |
greatly multiply the opportunities Of |
discharged service men for vocational |
occupations.
Il have visited many camps in this /
country" Baer explained. 81 am not /
sxaggerating when I say that have /
addressed, perhaps, 100000 soldiers
all told, and I believe 1 have sensed !!
their needs and their desires. have /
mixed with then and talked with them.
II have received hundreds of letters \
from soldiers about Secretary Lanes /
proposed reclamation and allotment OF /
land. AS a result of the failure # /
the late Congress to put that plan into
practice, months may now elapse be- /
fore the next Congress can put il into
operation.
Waited Too Long.
I'VE should have tackled such a |
problem a year ago, instead Of wait
ing until the war was over. Look at /
England and Canada and Australia /
See what they have already done ana /
are doing for the men who fought |
their share Of the war. In Canada /
alone a soldier may purchase land up /
to the value Of 5000 free from inter
est for two years-and the govern
ment will finance him-and advance
him an additional $1,000 for building
purposes OF course, he has to show
that he means business and really in
tends to take up farming, il he has
not already had some experience in
But the opportunity is there
Shall Congress refuse the American
soldier the same opportunity in this