Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1920-11-19
Flock of Inquiries Are
Pouring in as to Bonus
State Auditor and Attorney General Deluged With Questions
When do get it,? Is Cry-Bona-Fide Residence Is
Question of Interest in Each Instance

Now that the soldiers bonus meas
ure has passed by a vote of the people
and steps are being taken to give the
veterans their adjusted compensation
within a short period of time as the
machinery of the new law will permit,
day as to various interpretations of
the measure.
State Auditor c. w. Clausen is the
recipient of batch of inquiries every
day from ex-service men asking about
their chances Of getting their money
right away. The Attorney General,
l.. l.. Thompson, likewise, is being
made the target of an avalanche of
queries relative to the bonus act, that
bids fair to rival the avalanche of
votes by which the said bonus passed
in the recent election.
The main burden of the inquiries Is
% when can they expect their COM
pensation? and CD who comes under
the head of bona fide resident Of the
State of Washington?
In answer to the first query the
state auditor last week wrote Captain
Henry A. Wise, state adjutant of the
American Legion, explaining the de-
tails that must be taken care of in
uottipU tho N, q chin ory ~ TIM houvu
act into actual operation, including
the canvassing of votes, the proclama-
ton by the governor, the sale of the
bonds to keep up the Veterans Com
pensation fund. and the probability Of
the supreme court test of the validity
of the bonds proposed to be issued
and sold.
Clausen sent this letter to Adjutant
Wise with the explanation that he
can relieve the minds of the service
men and ease up the flood of inquiries
now coming In by informing the
heads of all legion posts as to the
purport Of the letter.
Take the case Of one service man
who sat himself down and with a
blithesome ignorance Of the technical
details that have to be cared for
before such big proposition can be
put into operation, and wrote to this
effect:
Dear Sir: see the bonus bill
has passed. ! would like for you to
send my money to the above address
at once. as l intend leaving soon for
California"
The writer was no doubt sincere in
the belief that the state auditor was
going to pay the bonuses to
soldiers Immediately after the bill
was passed without formal applica-
ton properly verified, or any other
compliance with usual business meth
DDS or procedure, and furthermore,
he must have envisioned a state
auditor with powers of the alchemists
Of old to transmute thin atmosphere
into gold.
With reference to the second ques-
ton. as to who is bona flde resident
of the state, and as such entitled to
the bonus. the attorney general has
been called on by several scores
already for an Interpretation. AS a
matter Of fact the question is one Of
mixed law and fact, and has to be
determined in every instance that
comes up.
The law says "Any bona fide resi-
dent Of the state Of Washington, who
was regularly called. enlisted, drafted.
indicted or commissioned and who
served ON active duty in the army,
navy or marine corps Of the United
States between the 9Th day of April,
1917 and the 18th day of November,
1918 shall be entitled to compensa-
ton of SIS a month for service
between April 9Th, 1917 and Novem-
Der II, 1919, or one year after the
Armistice was signed. Also bona
fide resident of the state, q citizen
Of the U. s. at the time of his entry
therein served on active duty in the
naval, military or air forces of the
governments associated with the Uni
ted States in the war.
In the ultimate analysis the ques-
ton of residence is a matter Of indi-
vidual intent. which can be deter
mined only by inquiry into specific
cases. II man left the state and
lived away from the state for say
five years, never took up his residence
officially any other place, and intended
to return to this state, and his acts
conformed to this intent, he would
probably be entitled to compensation.
Bona fide means good faith. The
whole question SINNERS down to good
faith therefore. The proviso was
designated to prevent citizen not a
resident Of the state in action or in
tent prior to the war from coming in