Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1920-08-13

]Af'oV u @lfO.5f, contingent on
length of service and on an increas-
ing scale for higher grades, up to
1920 for a major general. Field
Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and Ad-
miral Sir David Beatty got 100000
each. Immediately after the armis-
tice in England men received a
months leave on pay to find a job,
and if they were unsuccessful were
allowed unemployment pay for six
months.
Even Germany, overwhelmed with
misfortune, was able to pay some
compensation to her fighters. They
got unemployment pay and were ex-
cused from payment of taxes.
In foreign countries the private
usually got less than the general.
In the United States no such distinc-
ton is made. 1t is only fair that
compensation be based on length of
service, however, since it is evident
that the measure of a mans sacrifice
generally was proportionate to his
length of duty.
The United States paid $50 as a
bonus to every man, regardless of
rank or length of service. Repre-
sentative Gallivan of Massachusetts
called this a tip" The United
States has established vocational
training only for disabled men.
There has been no land settlement
plan, no home aid, no training for
men who were not disabled, no ade-
quate cash compensation.
Surely, the other nations are less
able to pay compensation than is ou,
country The public debt of Great
Rritain is 40 per cent of her total
national wealth. France also owes
Al per cent of the national resources.
Germany's debt comes to SO per
cent. The outstanding obligations
of the United States are less than
eight per cent of the total wealth of
the country Yet, in spite of these
facts, the United States undoubtedly
has been the most niggardly of the
Eations at war. The proportion of
men who served is much smaller in
this country than in any other;
which, of course, means that the
proportion of those who did not
serve is much larger and that they
are much better able to carry the
burden of compensation
A number of individual states of
the Union have recognized the obli-
cation by paying it. Among them
are Minnesota, Wisconsin, Rhode Is
land, Massachusetts, New Hamp-
shire, South Dakota and Oregon.
Many other states have had compen-
sation programs in view, but have
postponed action, waiting to see
what the federal government will do.
In the case of foreign nations, it
is we'll to remember, too, that they
are paying compensation, in almost
every case, with money borrowed
from the United States.
After all of our wars of the past,
adequate compensation was paid to
service men. Nor was this compen-
5ation paid only to the disabled.
You remember that when this war
started you were told that War Risk
insurance would take care of the
men who were killed and disabled
and would do away with the neces-
5ity of pensions. Nothing was said
about adequate compensation for all
service men.
After the Revolutionary war, SOL
diers and their widows got pensions
of IS month, and this was later in
creased to $12 month. OF course,
SIP month in those days went a
long way. Land grants also were
made, at first only to members of
the Continental army, but later to
all who served. Vast tracts of land
were taken over by ex-soldiers or
their widows or dependents. Prac-
tically the same allowances and land
grants were made following the war
of 1912.
Pensions for the various Indian
wars also were paid at the rate of
IS, $12 and 500 a month to soldiers
and their widows. The same rate of
allowance prevailed for veterans of
the Mexican war.
After the Civil war, pensions were
granted and finally increased until
now any person who served 90
days or longer and was honorably
discharged get up to $50 a month.
The Confederate states, although
bankrupt, also provided for their
veterans During the Civil war largo