The Alaska daily empire., 1920-12-07
EFFORT SECURE
 BONUS WILL BE AIM OF LEGION
Ketchikan Post First to Act Walker Says Sentiment
 Is Strong for Bonus.


 The American Legion here in its regular meeting last Friday evening adopted resolutions calling on the Territory to give it's soldiers Q bonus as has been done in many of the States. Copies of the resC- lution will be sent to all posts in Alaska urging their cooperation with a view ot having it submit ted to the next session of the Ter ritorial legislature.
 While sentiment among eX-serY- ice men in Alaska seems to be crys- talking for a Territorial bonus, ; said Department Commander J. y. Walker, of the American Legion. to representative of The. Empire t2- day. ''The Ketchikan post is the first to adopt a resolution to that effect. I believe that other Alaskan posts will follow it's example in the near future Every delegate attending the last Territorial Convention Of the Legion was instructed by his post to vote for the endorsement of the four-fold plan for national bonus but at that time nothing had been said regarding a Terri torial bonus, although there was ar expression of sentiment in favor of the Territory compensating .eX-serV- ice men for lossses and expenses in cured by reason of their service
 rocb pop,1c Eouored
 Mr Walker said he believed that if the matter were put to vote among the Legionnaires, 90 per cent of them would favor bonus from the Territory, but he did not care to state that the percentage favor ing a cash bonus would be so large. He personally, and he believed a great number of other ex-servicc men were inclined to believe that the Territorial Treasury will not at this time stand the necessarily heavy drain that would result from a cash payment, even though it were small.
 "The figures speak for them selves" he continued. "Approxi- nately 2,500 mene were drafted in Alaska. The average length of serv- ice would probably reach 15 months for each man. Should a bonus of even $20 per month for actual service be authorized it would re- quire an expenditure of about $75,- 900. I am informed that the aver age yearly income Of the Territcry is approximately $400, 1000. It would seem, therefore, that the answer to the cash bonus proposition is con tained in these figures
 Land Grants Suggested,
 There has been some suggestion. according to Commander Walke:, that the Territory might through an Act of Congress, yet 10 be obtained, in some way give each ex-serYice man title to 160 acres of land to be selected by himself in lieu of a cash payment There are several vital questions to be solved" he admitted, before this could be donc. Tn fact, the Territory at present could not take such action. It has no land to give. All that could be done in this respect by the Terri torial Legislature would be to memoralizo Congress and submit a plan whereby the desired end could be attained.
 There is every reason why Con gress should think fayorably on land grants for Alaskan veterans. !" declared MT. Walker Such policy could in no way iniure the inter osts of the Government, and should and undoubtedly prove to be Of great material benefit to the Terri tory. By giving each ex-seryico man 160 acres. many of them would be receiving a regard which would be much greater than any cash bonus and these men would have an interest in the land which they do not now possess. Of course. under the present land laws operative in the Territory, it would be impos- sible to make grants such as are