Evening star., 1920-03-05
HEAD Of VETERANS
ASSERTS ANOTHER
! / OFFICIAL ISA RED
N: 6. Sperry, Accuser, Urges
$500 Be Paid to All Former
Service Men.

committee. which is considering soldier
relief legislation.
Marvin Gates Spe.ry. national presi-
dent of the Private soldiers and Sail
ofV Legion, who appeared to urge a
nat payment of $500 to all former serv-
ice men and women. charged that J.
III. Haiper, a member of the. l.tsSa :
tive committee OF the Rank and FIJI:
veterans Association. was n socialist
p and communist and had tried to turn
over the Private Soldiers and Sailors
Legion to the communist party OF New
Letters from, the Soldiers. Sailors and
Marines Protective Association of New
York city. asking the ANA ga nation OF
all soldier bodies. Were read by the
witness. who said this organization was
raided and its literature dumped into
the streets
What proof have you that Halp.r
is SOCIALIST" asked Chairman Ford
ney.
HE admitted IL TO me before wit
nesses. aIr. Sperry replied.
Only three signers are needed to oh
tain incorporation paper. permitting
the formation Of L s0l ... . yr'o ia ion
with the privilege OF $oiicitn" contri-
uotlons IN every state. Mr.. Sperry said
IN answer to question by Representa-
i've Treadway. republican, Massachu-
seets. as to how Mr. Sperry's organiza-
ton had been Incorporated
That's a curious provision" Rep
fesentative Treadway said.
Mr. Sherry opposed proposals of
representatives of other soldier or
sanizations for adjusted compensation
varying from $40 to $50 for every
month of service. and said the service
OF 4,e00,oO0 young Americans never
could be paid by '.5he sitmpng. miserly
additional compensation bills pending
before Congress-"
Seen as Helping Hand.
The hve-hundred dollar grant" he
toid the committee, would not be
paid for time at SO much n day or
month, but as helping hand from the
government to aid in restoring for
naer service men and women to posi-
lions In civil life from which thew
= we're called. without bargain or con-
tract. without money and without
pr1ce, to serve in time of need.
nagghng over payment by the
day or month is contrary to the wish
Is OF the American people"
DfscrIninat1ons in regard 70 pc
rsoos OF service. he added, would only
create confusion, delays. favoritism
1nd breed jealousies and bad feelings.
fhe witness declared that the fund
fn8 or 100000, ,009 annual interes, t}u q
ON foreign obligations proved that the
government was not weak financially
and could give financial relief to all
tornser service men,"
OpyO.es American Legion Plan.
Sayenbein, chairman of the Rank
and File Veterans Association, told
the committee that a composite bill,
inct0ding land grants. vocational
tf1snlng and financial aid, suggested
Dy- the American Legion, would keen
committee talking two or three
nrs."
housands of petitions have been
to headquarters favoring a
naa~ M. Savenbein said, exhibiting
. temple petition.
have a wagonloAd of those"
afman Fordney replied.
05ner service men would be salts
Mef with a bonus of 81 a day, with a
mPlmum OF $3.50. Mr.. Savenbein said.
separate land bills and extension of
etionaI training provisions. to in
estoe unintured men. are necessary.
ny one is to benefit under them, he
bonus bill the funds to be raised
UYm large incomes, should be the
nsE relief measure, he said.
representative Treadway asked the
tdtntity of Lever P. Barlow, vice
ch2irman OF the association.
Bariow invented afrpIane bombs
9uFtng the war and took nothing for
hif Inventions" Mr.. savenbein re-
4ncers Of the association receive no
pAf for their services, he added
twenty billion dollars must be
raised to pay future needs Of FORMER
sefvice men. Representative Kitchin.
democrat On. c., stated.
Ifhe American Legion didn't favor
: tonus at their national convention,
: but now they are fathering IT," Mr.
Ktfehin commented
e0fmer Captain Against Bonus.
The first former service man to
testify before the ways and means
cesnmittee against financial relief for
the service men appeared yesterday.
walter w. Burns of Green Point,
thnt a money hand-out" to the ex-
service men would simply be thrown
sway"
s Practically no former soldiers or
Btrns said. adding that most Of them
ID not know the effect payment of a
bonus would have.
All soldiers would take a money
grant II Congress authorized he told
the committee. Burns contended that
the satisfaction of having fought to
defend the country was sufficient re-
wkrd.
III the war had continued two
weeks more every American soldier
would have been SO tickled they
wouldn't want any bonus,' he added.
Representative Garner. democrat.
Texas. said not former service man
in, his district had written in favor
OF the proposed financial relief.
Secretary Bakers Views Sought.
Secretary f:aker is requested in a
resolution introduced by Representa-
tive Johnson. republican. South Da-
kota. to give his opinion on the pro-
posed extra bonus for former service
men.
Reclamation Of arid lands in the
west and south. with preferential
right to all former service men to
entry on existing drained public
lands, was urged by delegation
headed by Representative Smith, re-
publican, Idaho.
More than 150.0n0 men have al
ready signifed their desire for home
eteads, but are without financial
means to obtain them George R.
Maxwell of st. Louis told the COM
mittee.
lnA,,il Cvnnar& e rnno