New-York tribune., 1920-12-16
Poll of Legion
By Senate on
Bonus Likely
Finance Committee Tells
Veterans Representative
1t Must Know How Many
Men Want Cash Payment
Can't Provide a Billion
National Commander Will
Give His Opinion on the
Compensation To-day

From, The Tribunc's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Dec 15.-As a result
of hearing before the Senate Finance
Committee to-day on the question of
bonus and adjusted compensation for
the World War veterans, it is probable
poll will be made of several leading
posts of the American Legion through
out the country, to find out approx
mately what percentage of the veterans
favor a cash bonus.
No formal understanding has been
reached, but when questioned about it
by Senator Mclean, of Connecticut, at
the hearing to-day, Gilbert Bettman,
chairman Of the National Legislative
Committee of the American Legion,
representing 100000 members, said it
could be done.
Senator McL4-a sought to impress
had something like definite information
as to how many men wanted cash
bonus instead of other benefits pro-
posed by the pending bill, it was much
in the dark. Moreover, he said it would
make much difference to the Senate
how large an amount of money had to
be provided at once.
Not Hostile to Bonus
The temper of the committee was not
hostile to bonus legislation, but the
feeling was in evidence that it would be
difficult thing to provide money now
for a cash bonus, if the total required
was going up toward the billion mark,
or beyond it.
The hearing will be continued to-
chairman of the National Legislative
Committee of the American Legion, in
troduced Mr.. Bettman. Fred w. Gal
braith jr, National Commander of the
American Legion was present and Will
speak tomorrow.
The bill, already passed by the
House, was unqualifiedly indorsed by
Mr.. Bettman.
Senator Smoot asked him how many
of the former service men would want
cash Bettman replied his estimate
was about so per cent
When Senator Mclean suggested
poll OF Legion posts to fl ID out how
many wanted cash Mr.. Bettman said
this would give an uncertain result:
eve pledge the American Legion" he
said. "to conduct an educational cam
pagn in favor of the features of this
bill other than the cash payment"
Senator Simmons, of North Carolina,
thought a poll Of 100000, which is
the membership of the American
Legion, would give close idea of the
sentiments Of the service men.
Senator Smoot said he had received
communica tions from members of some
organizations outside the American
Legion insisting that SO per cent of the
men wanted a cash bonus. He and
others of the committee did not believe
the percentage was SO high.
Want All Treated Alike
Bettman said the policy Of the Legion
was to treat all veterans alike, when
Senator McCumber asked if he favored
additional benefits for those who went
overseas. The witness explained that
the policy Of preferential treatment for
the overseas men was that of the Ways
and Means Committee, not Of the Le-
gion.
Several wounded veterans, some on
crutches, attended the hearing
The opinion was expressed privately
by leading member of the committee
that legislation of the kind sought by
the veterans cannot be much longer de-
(ayed and that if not passed now it
will be next session. Senator McCum-
ber, acting chairman of the committee,
id that if a poll showed the cash pay
ments under the bill would be greater
than could be provided the other op-
tonal features of the bill might be
made more attractive