Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-15
BONUS
COMES TO front
Question of Cash Compensa'
ton to War Veterans De-
bated at Hearing.

The payment or caSn UohoS
former service men was prous 81 ny !.
opening Of hearings by the senate
finance commiatee on the House Dill
| to adjust compensation OF the FORMER
| soldiers and sailors.
Spokesman for the American
Legion estimated that not more tnan
| SO per cent Of the men would ASK TOT
! a cash payment. but Senator Smoot'
republican, of Utah. disagreed sharp
ly with this estimate. declaring tnat
| post cards he had received from IN
dividual service men from all parts
of the country indicated that " per
| cent Of the men would ask Tor cash'
: Senator'S Specific stafement.
Senator Smoot said the post cards
were furnished by the Stars and
and labeled my opinion on the bonus
question"
That the post cards probably were
propaganda against the Dir was
suggested by Gilbert Betterman OF
Ohio. who opsned the hearings; Sen
republican, North Dakota, acting
chairman. replied that the post cards,
Of which Senator McCumber produced
high stack, appeared to represent
actual views of war veterans
Optional Clause Discussed.
That options Of the bill other than
cash-proposed soldiers certificates"
payable in twenty years. vocational
training and farm or home aid-would
appeal to a large percentage OF war
veterans. was stated by Mr.. Better
man.
'oThis is indicated" he said, ''by the
fact that about 100000 are trying to
find out from the Department Of In
terror how to get farm lands"
gIr neft~rm.n ExDIn1ns.
OF the four options, Mr.. Betterman
explained. the cash payment proposed,
of $1.25 per day for actual time
served. would give beneficiaries about
40 per cent less than the other three
options.
."The 40 per cent additionst adds to
the attractiveness of the other op-
Frederick .. Galbraith. national
commander, and John G. Emory, vice
commander. also appeared for the
American Legion.
ed that canvass Of the former serv.
ice men as to what per cent desired
cash bonus might help the COM
mittee, for. they said, it was a ques-
ton Of ways and means largely at
this time. Mr.. Betterman said this
had not had time to take such poll.
Also he said. there were z.e0o. zoo
members OF the legion and 100000
former service men. and legion poll
would not be complete for obtaining
sentiment Of all.
Mclean Suggests Eliminafion.
Senator Mclean, republican, Con-
necticut, suggested that II too many
wanted the cash bonus it might be
necessary, in view OF the countrys
finances, to eliminate that feature of
the bill.
Senator McCumber asked why the
bill made a difference between SOL
diers who served overseas and those
who remained in this country.
The ways and means committee put
In the difference, Mr.. Betterman said,
and the only explanation he heard was
that it followed the Canadian meas-
ure. No difference was made by the
legion in the bill, as IL was presented
to the House by them. he said.
Expressing belief that Tess than 50
per cent OF the veterans would prefer
the cash bonus, Mr.. Betterman est.
mated about $500. 000, 600 woulA be
required II all took the cash bonus.
The bonus, he said. attempted to
correct the basic inequality in the
pay of men who were draftef and
men who were not, and who received
IS to 81 day during the war He
referred to these prices as paid to
war labor.
The hearings will be continued. to-
ynorfOw ='ss