New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1920-05-08
THE SOLDIER BONUS BILL.

Through a peculiar force of cir
clumstances it looks as if con-
gress is about to be forced into
enactment Of measure that has
behind il potential possibilities
for almost unending harm. We
refer to the various bills provid-
ing for bonuses for soldiers.
That peculiar circumstance is
the fact that while probably IS
per cent of the people Of the Uni
ted States are opposed to any such
legislation, fear Of sentiment and
misconstructiOn precludes OPPOSE
ton to such measures.
We can understand why con-
gressmen fear to oppose the meas
ures. IT is not alone that some of
them fear losing the soldier vote,
but they do not want to seem un-
grateful for what the soldiers
have done for the country The
big newspapers of the country
dare not attack it for the same
reason. Private individuals dol
not like to express their opposi-
ton for fear their motives would
be miscOnstrued.
If strong opposition is going to
arise it must come from the ranks
Of the soldiers themselves. They |
must take the lead and do it now |
In this connection we will say that |
Overall Clubs are suggested to
spent more than two years in the
army, of which nearly year was
spent in France. And he stands
in as much personal need of the
benefits of bonus as the average
former soldier.
We believe that the government
cannot be too liberal in its care
and rewards to those men who
were disabled during the war and
untitled to fight their own peace
time battles Of life. They should
have ample pensions and good
homes, if desired.
But we are opposed to bonus
legislation, and particularly to
any form of cash bonuses, because
at is not sound economic legisla-
ton iust at this time. In the first .
place a large majority of the sol I
diers of the United States army 7
were benefited by their service in !
broadened experience, efficiency, q
travel and improved physiques. Il
These are worth more than cash. Il
incidentally hundreds Of thou a
sands who were able to save prac-3
tically $50 month had a greater y
saving power than they had in ?
civil life, and saving. rather than n
earning, is what counts.
Enactment of any cash bonus 0
legislation would promptly initiate a
our money values to a greater ex- e
tent and increase the burden of u
the cost of living. Furthermore, "
while regrettable, it is true that a d
verv large percentage of the re-
cipients of a bonus would quit e.
production and spend their money o.
at a time when production is es- IL
sential to lower cost of living. al
To that extent the bonus would 81
do those particular men no good u
and the country a great HARM, :,
But if we knew this would be /"
the end of such legislation we
would not be so alarmed at the :.
subservience of congress to the !"
will of few former soldiers. We
fear that within a few years our =
nation will be laboring under -
pension bill of hundreds of mil =
lions Of dollars annually. The %
man who came out Of the service
with as good health as he went in,
and nearly all did, needs no PEN
sion, but should be willing and az
proud to light his own battles. III
Now is the time to stop such a "
There are few who deserves a %
bonus, but no bonus bill can be Pc
Enacted that will be fair and just. VI
)ne bill now pending provides 70
hat men who served less than oi'
ixtv days shall get nothing. Is pl
hat fair to the man who sold his &c
business, or gave up his job, prob I'd
Iblv stored his household furni-
ure, and served only fifty days. a.