Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1920-03-02
HOUSE COMMITTEE
ON. SOLDIER BONUS
STAGES WILD ROW
LEGION COMMANDER
PRESENT AT SESSION WHICH
COMES TO AN NOTORIOUS TEF.
MlNATION TODAY AT WASHING.
TON.

Washington March 2.-Takng mp
for the first time the question o! sol
der relief legislation, the house ways
and means committee got into a row
today over procedure and broke up IN
some confusion after members had re
pea ed charges made III the house mat
the measure had been sent to the
committee FOR burial After many
heated exchanges between membe'S
the committe ordered the room clear
cd Of spectators and then in eXecu-
tive session decided TO continue hear
ingG tomorrow
Before the sudden termination Of
the session Franklin D'Olier, national
commander Of the American Legion,
and Thomas W. Miller, chairman OF
the national legislative committee,
outlined what the organization want
cd from Congress. Both declared That
service men were not asking for a
bonus. WAile the Wrangle was in
progress several members lett the
meeting. saying they mad been Gale
to The house. Miller with his speech
unfinished, held the floor, being given
three minutes in which to close, w1ilr
half q dozen members tried to offer 4
short cut out It was said lha 300
persons wanted to be heard in support
OF the various plans. Members wefa
Of the opinion that some nea-urt
would be adopted.
All the legion asks, D'Olier told the
committee, is as liberal treatment as
is consistent with the welfare OF the
whole country"
An overwhelming majority OF eX-
service men feel strongly that this
government owes an obligation to all
persons who were handicapped either
bodily or financially" he declared, ad.
ding that disabled men wanted relief
Legislation ITO the end that they would
no longer be objects OF private char.
| ty."
Recommendations for Legislation
were presented as follows:
Land settlements covering farms
in all states, aid to encourage pur.
chase OF homes; vocational training,
and adjustment Of COMPENSATION
based on length of service for those
not desiring TO avail themselves OF
the other three features
"The American Legion" Mr. D'Olier
said, asks nothing in its selfish inter
! ests at the expense of the country, but
| at the same time does not feel that
! this obligation to eX-SerVice men and
women should be altogether passed by
at this time and all economizinz done
at the expense OF the eX-Service man
| lgn 10 ,,ri.-a fra, II
covering land settlement. home aid
and vocational training. every dollar
| invested by the government viii bring
ultimately great returns to the cOun
! try by making the eX-SeryiCe man q
| better citizen ald greater producer
/ More than fifty bills relating tc
bonuses We're before the committee
as il began hearings on the whole
question of soldier relief
Thomas w Miller of Wilmington.
Del. chairman of the legion's legisla.
service adjustment based on Justice
had taken the place of pensions based
ON charity
Objection to the Civil war pension
system, Mr. Miller said, was based ON
the theory that public charity" be ex-
| tended soldiers and their dependents
and that it naturally and invariably
, led to abuse and to political and pri-
vate corruption"
Taking up the case OF the returning
soldier, Mr. Miller said his service
had not fitted him to earn more
money and that his financial status
Il