The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1919-10-03
Bonus for Discharged Soldiers

a
Redfield. S. D.-Adjutant General
w. A. Mp:ris. gave out the following
statement today in respect to the mat
ter of bonus to honorably discharg-
ed service men from South Dakota.
my attention has been called to
newspaper articles appearing in the
State papers recently relative to a
proposed state bonus to honorably dis
charged service men from South Da-
kota. Numerous letters received by
this office seem to indicate that SER,
vice men are getting the impression
that bonus has alrady been provid-
ed by this State. This is not correct.
No bonus has been provided by the
State legislature, and no bonus can
be provided until the State legislature
meets. which will not be until the
winter Of 1920-21, unless a special
session should be called for some
purpose in the interim.
Ut is true that many states are tax
ing this means of rewarding their SER
vice men. North Dakota, understand
is planning to give her service mon
s25 per month for each month of for
eign service, Minnesota is considering
the proposition of bonus of $40 .,er
mo.lth for each month of service
Otner states are already giving, or
drafting legislation to provide, a
bonus Of from $50 to $1OO. South
Dakota gave her boys on the Mexican
border $75 bonus, but what she
will dossn respect to her World War
soldiers Is matter which must be
taken UP by the next legislature.
The Soldiers Enumeration Record
blanks Sent out to the assessors last
spring were originally attended in
connection with State history of the
boys who served in the war against
the Central Empire, but those records
when properly returned to this office,
will be most valuable to the service
men themselves as 1t will be then
possible for this office,sto see that
each soldier, sailor or marine is ac-
corded the benefit of all favorable
Legislation already on our statute
books or any future laws passed CIV
ing bonus or other special considera-
tion to those who served in the war.
South Dakota has already provid-
ed a law whereby returned soldiers
may SRlshase their own farms, i'm
prove and stock same through the
South Dakota Land Settlement COM
mission OF which Colonel Boyd Wales
is land commissioner. A mortorium
act has been passed exempting sold
ers from taxes during the time they
were in service, and exempting them
from legal process to collect debts
and staying judgements, liens, etc.,
for the period of their service and
one year after discharge. Acts have
also been passed giving free tuition
In state institutions to honorably dis.
charged soldiers, and also giving pre-
ference in public employment to SER
vice men.
South Dakota has already given
her soldiers the above recognition
for their services, and it is not likely
that she will be behind her sister
states in any patriotic good move.
but in order that the service. men may
avail themselves of these laws passed.
this office should have some record of
them, and to this end 1 urge every
soldier, sailor or marine, each Y. M:
9. A., Y. w. G. A., X. of c., Red
Cross, Salvation Army and canteen
worker who has been in the service
during the war to make application
to their county auditor for Soldiers
Record Enumeration blank, fill same
out and return to such auditor. In
case the auditors have no blanks on
hand, this Office will furnish them
on request. This is important for the
benefit of the service men and wo-
men of this state, and in case they
have not returned to the state, some
relative should attend to this for
them"