Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-02-24
FOUR PLANK DEMANDS ,MPos.
sisLE or FuLFlLLMGNT, SAY
LAWMAKERS.
MIGHT COMPLY IN PART
WITH ONE OF FOUR
Land Settlement, Home Buying Aid,
Vocational Education and Straight
Bonus Included In Demands Fer
nuIatsd and Presented to Con.
orsss-ponus to Require Billions.
[Ry T.. G. Dougherty.l

10y l/OuSuShNS'J
Washington, Feb. 24.--Members Of
congress are plainly disturbed and
perturbed by the four-plank benefi-
cial legislative program put forward
by the American Legion. They all
desire to do everything within their
power to make the former service
men contented and convinced that
the country is not unmindful Of Its
obligations to them, but they shrink
from the financial consequences of
Undertaking to carry out the legion's
program in any substantial degree.
Between the desire to satisfy the
"boys" and the disastrous results
that they fear would follow from
such satisfaction, to the country in
general. congressman who are not
definitely committed to some form of
beneficial legislation for ex-soldiers
see nothing but grief for themselves
| whatever they do.
The program determined upon by
the legion, with action by congress
demanded within sixty days, follows;
First-Land settlement projects
covering all states.
Second-Home aid to encourage
homes by ex-service men.
Third-vocationa education for
all ex-service persons.
Fourth-Adjustment of compensa-
tion or extra pay Lased on length IF
service.
While the former soldier will be
required to take his choice between
these four forms of aid, and most of
them will favor the fourth. which is
commonly spoken of as a bonus. it
was calculated today by member of.
the house that it would take any
where from $4,000, 000, 600 to s25. 0O0,-
| 000, 900 to carry out the four forms of
aid. The concensus of opinion was
that the four-plank plan was there
fore incapable Of realization. Men,
bers who are convinced that some-
thing should be done for the former
service men expressed the opinion
that the outcome would be cash
bonus at the rate of dollar a day
for each day Of service.
Opinion in congress is solidifying
in favor of giving the boys a cash
| bonus of a dollar for each day Of
service" Representative Royal C.
Johnson, of South Dakota, DECLARED
Mr.. johnson enlisted as private SOL
dier and advanced to the rank Of
| first lieutenant, and is one Of the
leaders of house members who de-
sire that something substantial
should be done for the former service
men at this session, land rather ex-
pect to see it adopted. The money
would be raised by a bond issue The
expert financial opinion is that it
would be better to make the compen-
sation in the form Of cash derived
from a bond issue than to give the
bonds directly to the benefciaries, as
favored by the executive committee
of the legion. Bonds directly issued
in small denominations would pass
from hand to hand so readily anc
freely that such am issue would be
equivalent to initiating the currency
| by the required amount, which, on
the dollar-a day basis, would be be-
tween 81. 400, 600, 900 and $1,000, O0O, 900.
The condition of the treasury and the
| financial condition of the country
generally is such that the present
session of congress at least would not
be justified in doing more than vot-
Ing on the fourth plank of the le-
gion's program in the manner have
Indicated
Impossible, Says Mondsii.
Majority Leader Mondell, however
does not share Mr.. Johnson's view
On the other hand. he opposes any.
thing on large scale.
To make any considerable Apr.
priation to provide compensation for
ex- service men," Mr.. Mondell said
thereby Initiating the unbonded in
debtedness of the country, would be
to invite sure financial difficulties.
To embark upon any scheme running
into billions and requiring a bond is
sue would probably necessitate aa
interest rate on such an issue of 6
per cent If the bonds were to he kept
at par; also it would proba bly, re-
duce to very considerable extent
the value of the outstanding bonds OF
the government and involve the risk
Of going off the specie basis for our
CURRENCY. l am speaking now OF a
commercially f1oated bond issue to
raise the cash with which to pay
bonuses. n,
"On the other hand. II the adjusted
compensation or bonuses were psid
directly by issuing bonds Of small
denominations to the ex-seryice men
we would have all the i'll effects AL
ready referred to with the additions.
disastrous effect OF probably in
creasing tremendously the cost of
commodities thru the resultant in
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