Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1919-02-21

sitiet OF ,tue vast army which Amer
lea raised to assist in the defeat Of
Germany is going ahead without re-
saFd to the economic needs of the
country Or those Of the men who are
mustered out Of the service. This is
Cue e the fact that the administra-
CON had made no preparation what
ever e. meet the conditions that nee
essarllg would arise when 5000. 600 men
were suddenly transferred from camp
hie 20 the duties Of civilians.
Aiea are being mustered out Of the
Service regardless Of whether thew have
iohs awaiting them or not. A good
many units are being mustered out OF
service not at the point Of their enlist
mint but at the great centers OF popula-
ton, tar from their homes and amid
c dieus not conducive to their mo-
ra Thousands OF soldiers are being
returned TO this country and mustered
out q service who have not had their
pay for several months Thousands Of
Others have received their pay but have
had it taken up by their aliotments and
their Liberty bond subscriptions so
that they are returning to civilian life
practically penniless. In addition to
this, there is an order by the War De
partment that soldiers must give M
their uniforms within a short time aft
e returning to civilian life. which in
hicts upon the average man a financial
burden that he is little able to stand.
Needless Injustice to Soldiers
These iniustices could all have been
avoided bad the administration had anv
plan Of rehabilitation such as Euro
pean telliRerents had peri ected in an
tlcirason OF that time when their vast
arne must be demobilized and return
TO civilian pursuits In those countries
soldiers are not being discharge from
the service without money, without
Jobs without some civilian clothing. or
without some guarantee that they will
not become a burden to their friends
or the public pending the time they find
employment.
Ia order to alleviate, in a small way
the conditions Of American soldiers
who are being mustered out Of service.
several bills have been introduced in
Congress by republican members, which
woHId permit soldiers to retain their
uniforms and which would provide
some small compensation for al men
who are honorably discharged from the
service. Among those republicans who
have introduced bills Of this character
are
Reprcs sentative French. of Idaho: A
bin providing for the retention by Off
GERS soldiers sailors and marines, of
uniforms and clothing and other ar
ticles Of apparel, upon their being hon
orally discharged from service.
Representative Gould. of New York !:
a bill providing that al lenlisted men
and non-commisisoned officers in the
? Army. Navy Marine Corps, Coast
Guard and Army Nurse Corps. who re-
ceive an honorable discharge from ser
vice. shall retain as their property, at
no cost to them, whatever clothing and
equipment they may have in their pos
session at the time Of their discharge
and that they be allowed 10 wear the
same in civilian life Representative
Could also introduced a bill providing
that all officers and men who have
served IN the military and naval serv-
ice of the United States during the war
with Germany and Austria, shall, when
hon0rably discharged or mustered out,
receive two months extra pay if they
served outside the continental limits Of
the United States, and one months ex-
ira pay if they served within the conti-
mental limits Of the United States.
Representative James, Of Michigan !:
a bill providing that every officer and
enlisted man Of the Army, Navy and
Marine Corps or the Army Nurse
Corps shall be paid three months pay
at the time Of his being mustered out
Of service or given an honorable dis
charge
Representative Fuller Of Illinois: A
bill providing that every officer and
enlisted pan who has served in the
ruW Navy or Marine Corps or Army
Nurse Corps, shall be given one months
extra pay and the sum OF 500 when
he is mustered out OF service and given
an honorable discharge
ResHlt of Democratic Indifference
All Of these bills have been before
the House Committee on Military AT
fairs for several weeks without the
committees taking any action on them.
The vast majority of the bills were in
troduced in November and December,
soon after the signature OF the armis-
fice and before the troops began to be
demohiized Had they been acted up
on promptly by the Democratic House
Committee and Democratic Congress,
much Of the privation which is now be-
ing endured by soldiers and sailors
would have been avoided
Democrats, however as well as the
War Department, seemed indifferent
to the needs of the returning soldiers,
with the result that now there are
thousands Of men who have been mus
tered out Of service, or returned to this
country and waiting Tor discharge who.
through no fault Of their own and
mach 70 their humiliation and embar-
rassment are being compelled to ac-
cept charity from the public and patri-
otie organizations. This is another H.
lHsgation Of the inability Of the pres
ent Democratic administration to meet
the problems Of peace.