New Britain herald., 1919-09-11
MONEY FOR THE SOLDIERS.

the Welcome Home celebration in favor of some method of obtaining bonus, in cash, for local military men, men who are veterans of the Great War. The soldiers and sailors acted wisely in divorcing the question of money from the recent celebration, preferring, after a free discussion, to apear without financial remuneration on this day of days" However there is an impression broadcast about the city that something should be done for the returned boys, particularly other states have provided a bonus for the men who saw service in the past war. This was proven during the preliminary arguments. Soldiers and sailors gave voice to their dis appointment that the Nutmeg state had not provided a little money for the veterans and many voters about the city have the same impression. Massachusetts, recently, gave bonus of one hundred dollars to every man that was in the service. Rhode Island, Vermont, Illinois, and New York state are among other communities that come readily to mind when this plan is considered There are others, many of them, who have handsomely taken care of their returned citizens, and the list is being added to daily.
 Connecticut probably made as much, more in proportion, out of the manufacture of war materials than any other state. The income from ''excess profits taxes" it was stated amounted to some s17 100000 and the state is financially better off than any other, as far as we know. It is too bad that the soldier has grievance, particularly when it is considered that other districts, less able to af- ford it, have done more than this one has even considered It is no won- soldier has desire to obtain a bonus from the state. Why shouldn't he? The wish is spreading, it is gaining momentum with each new state that is added to the list of benefactors, as it should.
 There may be no large reward to the soldier or sailor forthcoming from the city. It could scarcely afford to make a gift that would be appreciable. But he should get it from the state.
 Despite the fact that no great amount may be added to individual pockets of soldiers and sailors by the Welcome Home celebration we be- lieve that we see a possible return from the carnival that is to be con- ducted here during the week. We have, owing to the action of the manufa Cturers and the city, together with a subscription contest, the sum of over thirty thousand dollars to guarantee the success of the affair. It seems that this will be about enough to cover expenses. If this is so, and an appreciable sum is realized from the concession amounts that the CdInlNdl IS to pay Lue ClIS III IetuIIl for the privilege of showing here, there should be enough money to start a memorial building of some kind, with club rooms for ex-service men, or at least a permanent memo rial There is, we understand, a cer- tain amount of money, realized from 10 h1r amateurs at the Lyceum and several such schemes, last spring. The pro- fits of the carnival, providing it makes any profits, and there is every reason why it should, might be added to this. it will make tidy sum-
 Presumably the amount of money appropriated by the city and the manufacturers was a gift, not loan, and it will not have to be paid back out of anything that the carnival may return. Therefore the carnival profits will be all "velvet." Such travelling shows are, particularly when they get the support of a city, big money makers. Our soldiers should benefit after all.
 Though whatever they might get from this affair will be small it meanwhile must not be forgotten that they have every right to expect the state to be generous enough to fol- low the lead of some of it's less wealthy brethren. There are few sol diers or sailors that served with the the shape of bonus, there are none but what have a right to ask for it now, when others have instituted the system and the state is we'll able to