The Washington herald., 1921-04-08

ECONOMY In government expepdi-
ture is the real solution of the bonus
problem which 1t Is expected will
once more be taken up at the forth
coming special session of Congress,
in the opinion Of Claude burlington,
Dallas merchant, seen yesterday at
the Washington.
There is no need for increased
taxation" said burlington, sit is
simply a matter Of cutting down ex-
penses here and there to defray the
cost OF legislation made imperative
by the claims Of the former service
man who did his BIZ during the war
and who upon his return found thar
he, had lost from five to ten years in
the economic race, with his fellow
citizen who remained at home"
II the United States could urge
upon the world a program of reduc-
tton OF armament, at the same time
decreasing its own military and
naval expenditures. burlington says
the saving effected by such a course
would, In a few years, be sufiicient
to defray the cost of a bonus or
other remedial legislation which
might be enacted for the relief Of
former service men.
SAYS ARMAMENT REDUCTION
WOULD CUT DEFENSE BUDGETS.
Il do not advocate an ultra -paci-
hst program. / DO not want to see
the United States reduce the number
OF war ships on the seas or its land
forces below the point Of absolute
safety" said burlington. but / do
believe that this country could in
q nc 20 =. a
for the reduction of armament which
would in the end enable us to re-
trench our budget for defense"
There Is now a movement on
foot to bring about a reduction of
military and naval expenditures that
Is stronger and more well-defined
than this country has ever seen be-
fore. Would this not be an op-
perfume time to secure vigorous and
quick action in the matter, to the
ultimate benefit of the returned SOL
dier who, during the recent strug-
gle. fought so hard to bring the
United states to the proud position
It holds today?"
Remedial Legislation for the former
service man would not mean that
the proposed total of 100000. 900
would be handed out of the Treas
ury in cash. in twenty-four hours.
Purringtcn pointed out.
I'VE must remember" he remind
ed. that 1t will be the minority
who will take advantage of the
cash bonus. and even to those who
elect the cash bonus, this money
will not be paid in a lump sum.
PROVIDE OTHER THAN
CASH PAYMENTS.
Il am confident that the other four
optional plans will prove more, pop
ular than the cash bonus. These.
briefly outlined, provide for:
1. Adjusted pay. at the rate of
81 a day for home service and $1.25
for foreign service. The maximum
for a man without overseas SER
vice would be $500; $625 for a man
with overseas service.
2. A paid-up twenty-year endow-
ment War Risk insurance policy.
The face value of this policy will
be payable to the veteran at the
before the expiration of twenty
years. the face value will be paid
to the beneficiary of the policy.
Loan values are also provided for.
3. Vocational training aid of $1.25
per day while taking a course In
vocational training. The amount
Of this would not exceed 40 per
cent of the amount that would have
been paid in cash.
4. Farm or home aid. for the pur-
chase or improvement of city or
country property. In no case would
the amount exceed 40 per cent OF
the cash bonus.
S. Land settlement. providing for
the establishment of reclamation
projects and for the development
and Improvement of vacant land.
These projects would. If possible.
be located in each State. the State
paying part OF the cost Of private
lands bought in localities where
government land were unavailable.
The land settlement plan would
provide for the sale Of farm units
on these projects when they were
ready for settlement. The sale
price would include the purchase
price of land plus the cost of i'm
provements. Terms would be part
down, the remainder in forty years
at S per cent interest.
Thus it may easily be seen that
any Of the four other optional plans
have been made more attractive
than the cash offer" burlington
pointed out
DEGREES THREAT OF
FINANCIAL DISASTER.
To the argument that this legis-
lation would entail an additional
debt of $500. 100000 and would
tax the resources Of the county to
the breaking point, burlington says
that the United States is today the
wealthiest country in the world.
that this cry Of threatened financial
disaster is always raised whenever
an appropriation is proposed which
does not suit some particular class.
Great Britain. France and Canada,
all of whom suffered heavily from
the expenses of the world war,
have all provided generously for
those who made sacrifices during
the war. burlington points out, ana
1t is not only an obligation upon
the United States government to
care for it's returned veterans, but
also q sound Investment.