Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1921-03-31
MICHIGAN VOTES ON BONUS


$4,000.
"The longer action is delayed" he
continued, "the more insistent is the
demand that something concrete be
done. When the armistice was signed
the boys didn't care so much. Many
of them said, We'll, we can get a
job and soon we'll be on Easy street,
Now many of them haven't had jobs
for months-and they need the mon
ey.
"First we were told the country
couldn't afford a bonus; then we
were told to wait till the" disabled
men had been cared for. That was
all right with us, because the Le-
gion's policy always has been that
first consideration should be for the
disabled. But while Michigan's for
mer service tubercular patients con-
tinue to receive treatment on poor
farms, we continue to wait.
"The Senate Finance Committee
has Endorsed the justice of our
claims. In its report the committee
said:
HC kGllCl al dSoulil pliOl tieAb biiN
enactment of this bill into law will
Immediately load upon the backs of
an already excessively tax burdened
public an immense sum Of money is
not warranted.
Leaving out the equation of ev-
cry vestige of sentiment, every ele-
ment of gratitude and applying only
IL Il s
culation, we can not deny that by al
lowing the man who fought for his
country, who placed his life in pawn
for his country, the increase in COM
pensation provided by this bill, we
are still giving him for his service,
with all its risks and hardships, a
compensation much below that which
the common laborer in the United
States received during his absence.
Can a grateful country do less than
this p"
Twelve states have passed bonus
bills in which a cash payment is
granted. In nearly every case, the
measures were carried by votes of
3 to /. Forty-four states have
passed some sort of legislation ben
eficial to the former service men. In
New York state a referendum on a
$45,00O,OO0 bond issue carried by
more than half a million votes.
"Maine has passed an adjusted
compensation bill granting 500. to
each former service man, has estab-
lished a soldier settlement board, and
has appropriated reserve land. Mas
sachusetts is paying a bonus Of. 500
and has a commission studying the
question Of further relief.
Minnesota is paying a bonus of
SIS for each months service and is
providing a 5000 tuition fee for vo-
cational training. New Jersey is
paying $40 for each months service.
New Hampshire is paying bon
US of 500 for which $1,000, 100000
was appropriated. New York is pay
ing SO for each months service and
has authorized a tax of one-half mill
for a Returned Soldiers Fund.-"
which aims to help veterans build
homes, purchase farm machinery and
start in business.
"Rhode Island is paying 500 to
each former service man. At the
last general election South Dakota
voted by 3 to ! in favor of q bonus
of SIS for each months service and
cooperating with Federal authori-
ties in settling soldiers on the land
Washington voted by 3 to l to
spend $11 100000 to give S15 for
each months service. Wisconsin
voted $15,000,000 to give each mar
$40 for each months service anc
give $4,000 to each man for re
education.
an Canada bonuses have beer
graded from as high as 5000 for 6
private to $475S for major general
In France, privates received as higl
as $233.5S; in Great Britain $4,000
and in Australia S98.42.
Australia sent 10 per cent of he
population over sea and paid then
40 per cent higher than our men
Her returned men were paid from
$40 to $15 a week until they coul,
get jobs. Canada sent over sea
per cent of he- population and ad
justed compensation to veterans, &C
cording to whether a man was mar
ried, or single. Returned Canadian
received S75 a month while awaitin,
employment.
"Great Britain, with half its pop
ulation and a net expenditure in tn
war $12,500,OOO, 900 greater tina
ours, paid her former service me
from $140.94 for privates to 1929
for major-generals
"Out Of the American private's SO
a month or 500 # he had a wife an
child, SIS went as an allotment fo
family, SO or 81 for insurance and
proportion for Liberty Bonds. 70
can figure what he had left for cil
arets and canteen."