The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1919-03-12
PLAN TO
HELP Y:ANKS IN
YEAR OF 1888
Twenty Years Must Elapse BE-
fore FulfAmount of Bonus
Becomes Available
LANCER GIVES AN OPINION
Tells Adjntant General Fraser
SIS in 1920 Will BE Boys
First Relief

Returned soldiers who are beseig-
ing the adjutant generals office with
requests for their bonuses under an
act passed by the 10th general assem-
bly, allowing each North Dakota Yank
$25 for each month he spent in the
service OF his country, will clamor in
to an opinion from Attorney General
Langer. delivered to Adjutant' Gener-
al Fraser yesterday at the la;ter's re-
quest.
The attorney general finds that unN
der the terms of the act creating the
returned soldiers fund there will be
about SIS available Cor each soldier
one year from next June-.)une 80,
1890, 10 be exact. There will not be a
penny against which the boys can
draw earlier than June 80, 1920, and il
each of the states 10000 soldiers take
advantage of the act, there will not be
one penny over SIS per capita avail
able then.
On June 80, 1921 returned soldiers
can draw $25 each, and on each gear
thereafter another $25 bonus will be
ready for, them. But tnerell be no
lump sum payments under the terms
Ot this act. and a fighter who has
$50 coming from the state will get
his last $25 instalment June 50, 1913.
General Disappointment.
That's the sober truth as Attorney
General LANCER sees it after care
full study OF the returned soldiers
bill. It will be a disappointment to
the boys, in whose minds have been
c0njured visions OF an immediate pay
ment in lump sum at the rate OF $25
for each month they spent in service,
or who. at the worst. were led to be.
lieve their BONUS would be paid to
them in regular monthly instalments.
There is another. queue to the bill
which returned soldiers may not find
satisfactory, according to the. opinion
Of the attorney general. The bill
specifically provides that the bonus
can be used dconly in acquiring a home
through the state home builders as
sociation, established by one. Of the
league program bills passed by the
recent assembly, .Ori in procuring an
education. The home bulldog bill pro
vides that when any member of a
home bdyers't League has scraped to-
gether 20 per cent Eof the price of a
home. the association will buy the
property and place him in possession.
The SIS when each North Dakota
Yank may receive June 20. 1919, will
not, it is pointed out. go far toward
the purchase Of a home, nor will it
finance any very extensive venture
along educational lines.
Leader is EuIogistic.
The returned soldiers bill has been
much lauded in the Nonpartisan
uress. OF 1t The National Nonpartisan
Leader in it's last issue says:
1.-The treatment being accorded our
returned soldiers throughout the ma
ton shows up the thin veneer of old
gang patriotism. After he speech
making and the bouquets, the men
are left to shift for themselves in
an oversupplied labor market In
fact, there is a deliberate plan in
many quarters to use the needy sol
Colorado legislators have presented
bill to give soldiers pick
jobs on the state roads at 81 the
day, provided they would sign up for
a definite period of enlistment.
In striking contrast with this sort
of action, North Dakota has provided
for payment of S25 month for ev-
cry North Dakota boy in the army
and navy of the United States >Or the
allies. for each month spent in such
service during theg reat war. This
money is to be used either as first
payment on city or farm home for
the soldier or for his education, so
Continued on Page Seven)