Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1919-10-14
NEW SOLDIER PLANS
Cash Payments and Loans Urged as
Most Advantageous to Fighters.

Washington, d. C.-Determined eff
forts to obtain for the returned sol
diers more substantial reward than
that given them in the bonus of $50
is soon to be made in congress. SEN
timent rapidly is coming to support
the suggestion of larger reward.
1t is the general opinion of the
democratic leaders in the house that
the rtward should take three forms
first, and most important, that
generous cash bonus should be pro-
vided; second, that a land bill should
be passed to provide opportunity
for soldiers to acquire farms if they
so desire; and third, that the pend
ling land bill should be amended to
permit the soldiers to purchase homes
in cities if they prefer.
In the cash bonus the democratic
leaders are very much interested. It
is conceded that $50 bonus was only
temporary measure, passed in the
closing hours of the last session
when any effort to obtain a greater
reward for the men would have re-
suited in delaying, if not defeating
it. The bonus provided immediate
relief for the men but according to
democratic leaders afforded only a
sum sufficient to enable them to buy
civilian clothes.
The suggestion offered by these
leaders and the one seeming to gain
the greatest support is that the men
should receive reward of $50 a
month for every month of service,
either in this country or overseas. 1t
is conceded such a grant would mean
heavy drain on the treasury, but
in as much as the other rewards pro-
posed contemplate only a loan of
money by the government, the cash
allowance is favored.
Bonus Discussed.
1t has been urged also that the
bonus of $50 should be subtracted
from the total sum which would
come under the new award of money,
but it is not receiving much favor.
The democratic leaders contend the
original bonus was more in the ma
ture of payment Of a debt than a
grant of money because the soldiers
were forced to discard civilian garb
on entering the army and invariably
fhof, fO,,r,I
unable to make use of the clothing
they abandoned. There is the posi-
bility, however, that where a man
served only a month or two months
before being honorably discharged
it will be regarded the $50 bonus
, amply compensates him.
The plan to give the soldiers ar
opportunity to purchase city homes
if they so desire has been fosterec
by Representative Scott Ferris, dem
ocratic ranking member on the com.
mittee considering the land bill. Sol
diers have been contending they die
not have an interest in the propose
to acquire farm lands and that they
would not sacrifice their position!
in the city to enter upon the doubt
: full enterprise of farming. For sucl
= as these, Ferris is proposing the cit!
home idea.
The city home plan will offe
greater opportunity than is presente,
in any building and loan scheme o
other building organization now il
existence, just as the democratic
leaders contend the farm land bill
should make it very easy for tn
soldiers to go to the land. Tn
money will be lent on long tim
notes, undoubtedly, and at rates o
interest so low as to be merely nom
inal. The soldiers who have returne
and married, as many of them hav
done, thus could begin to own thei
homes and thus also the congestio
in cities throughout the countr
would be relieved.