The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1920-05-03

rewards to those men who were dis
abled during the war and untitled
TO fiCht their own peace time bat
ties of life. They should have ample
pensions and good homes, il desired.
But We are opposed to bonus legis-
lation, and particularly 10 any form
OF cash bonuses, because il is not
sound economic legislation just at
this time. In the first place a large
majority of the soldiers of the Unit
ed States army were benefited by
their service in broaoened experience,
efficiency, travel and improved ply
siques. These are worth more than
cash. incidentally hundreds of thous-
and5 who were able to save practi-
cally $40 a month had greater saw
ing power than they had in civil life,
and saving, rather than earning, is
what counts.
Enactment of any cash bonus leg
islation would promptly initiate our
money values to greater extent
and increase the burden OF the cost
Of living. Furthermore, while regret
table, it is true that very large
percentage of the recipients Of
bonus would quit production and
spend their money at a time when
production is essential to a lower
cost of living. To that extent the
bchus would do those particular men
no good and the country a great
harm.
But II 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
few years our nation will be laboring
under pension bill of hundreds OF
millions of dollars annually. The man
who came out Of the service with rs
good health as he went in, and nearly
all did, needs no pension, but should
be willing and proud to fight his own
battles Now is the time to stop
such q movement.
There are q few who deserve .
bonus, but no bonus bill can be en-.
bill now pending provides that men
who have served less than sixty
days shall get nothing. Is that fair
to the man who sold his business, or
gave up his job, probably stored his
household furniture, and served only
fifty days. Wouldn't such injustice
rankle in his heart and make him
bitter against has country for which
he had made this sacrifice? The
same bill excludes commissioned Off
GERS from its benefits. 1t is a well
known fact in army circles that the
sergeant with everything furnished
and possibly an allotment 10 his fam
| ily is far better off financially than
a second, or even a first lieutenant.
with $500 spent for equipment, who
pays for his rations and has other
heavy expenses. The trainers of the
nlIl dlIlOullCtu lildl lity cAptCtcu -
large number of men who do not
need the cash bonus would not ask
for it. That makes US laugh. We
would like to see the man who could
find no use for s4O0 or $500 which
the government is holding subject to
his order.
A land or home aid bill would be
the fairest and, for the nation as q
whole, the best that could be en-
acted, but even that would be un
fair to the youth who does not want,
and may never want, 10 buy a home.
Better that no bonus be given ex-
cept to those actually disabled by
wounds or disease than that an in.
justice be done to a great many, and
no general bonus bill can be enacted
that would be just,-Houston, Texas,
Contracting News.