Republican farmer., 1919-10-17
DEMOCRATS GET
 ACTI0N0N VETS
 REWARD TANGL-EE E
Period of Inactivity Ended When Hull Starts New
 Bill.

Washington, D. C., Oct. 15.-For five months the Republican major ity of the House of Representative i has foundered around in futile en- deavor to redeem it's promises to suitably reward the soldiers and sail ors who won the Worlds War. With nothing definite in sight after nearly haf-year of mingled boasts and sombre silence, it remained for a Democrat to suggest something feasi- ! ble to eXtricate the Republicans from their tangle, but, of more importance, to see that the warriors actually got reward from this session of Con- gress. The plan is a House commit tee of 21 to expeditiously handle all i measures designed to reward the sol | diers, and to evolve something at ] once.
 l If the procedure in vogue in the House during the special session is followed in this case, the idea will | be considered too constructive for a Democrat to be permitted to gIean l credit for. That will mean that the
 resolution introduced by Representa- 1 tive Cordell Hull of Tennessee is like Iy to be "kidnapped'' and reported to the House as a choice Republican thought.
 The select committee planned by MT. Hull would consist of 12 Repub- Icans and nine Democrats, and would l have Jurisdiction of all proposed leg islaiOn, such as subjects relating to i the civil establishment of all hon. orably discharged officers, soldiers.
 sailors and marines of the present i World War, including all bills, reso- lutiOns or communicat tions relating to , their vocational rehabilitation, to their | educational facilities of any kind, to their employment, providing credits, , or providing additional compensation 1 of whatsoever kind or in whatever form, including the bonus, hospital ; and sanatarium facilities or homes, | or alloting lands; also subjects relat- ing to War Risk Insurance and com pensation for disabilities incurred in
 the service, including allotments." In explaining the purpose of his
 resolution, MT. Hull said that at pres ent there Is a mass of such proposals
 as were outlined, which have been referred to more than a half-dozen
 standing committees, producing a sit uation inviting duplication, conflict and controversy as to committee jurisdiction.
 ITO illustrate" said he, "bills pro
 viding for bonuses payable in cash got to the military affairs committee, while those providing for a bonus payable in bonds go to the ways and means committee. Certain bills reIat-
 ing to compensation for injuries have
 gone to the interstate commerce com
 mittee, while others of similar nature have gone to one of the pension com mitteeS.
 Tt is manifest that all informa-
 ton presented through hearings or
 by other methods touching any phase
 of this single class of legislation
 should be presented to one commit
 tee, and that ali proposals for relief
 or action should. likewise. be brought
 under its Jurisdiction to the end that
 prompt orderly, comprehensive and sound action may be had. It is due
 the soldiers and sailors that each and every wise and sound legislative pro-
 posal affecting their interests or wei fare should be thus considered and
 prompt action obtained accordingly,
 and the agency proposed by this res
 olution offers the only certain and
 speedy means of accomplishing this end.
 "A specially selected committee of
 picked men selected by reason of
 their ability, technical information touching this class of legislation, and
 their sense of judicial fairness would
 undoubtedly enable Congress to en-
 act the soundest and most desirable legislation on these various subjects, while at the same time unsound or
 undesirable proposals would be more
 effectively dealt with.
 MT Hull picked 21 as the number
 to compose the committee because its size would permit it's subdivision into
 many branches for the e0peditious | handling of the many bills already introduced into the House according to their obvious classification. It will be remembered that the Republicans In the last session of Congress held up the soldiers land bill, sponsored by Secretary of the In ter1or Lane, feeling that anything with that much merit should be held for the special session when the G.,l O. P. would control both houses of Congress. It now appears as if they
 wish they had left it alone, as Rep
 resentative Frank w. MondeH of Wy | oTning, Republican floor leader, and | named as official 'kidnapper'' of the Lane plan, is unable to rally more than half-dozen of his own party in caucus to his support. This ac- counts for the cautious boasting of MT. Monden in a recent public state ment anent the t'achievements'' of the House Republicans, when he said of the erstwhile Lane bill, now the MOndell Shoot measure: - 'The House has reported and there is now 1 on the calendar the national soldier | settlement act, which provides for farmhomes for soldiers who take ad- vantage of its provisions