The Meeker herald., 1921-09-24
WORLD WAR VETS ARE NOT
SEEKING PASSAGE BONUS BILL

No little publicity has been given to
the so-calle,l bonus bill', more acc,ir-
atcIy known as the Soldiers Adjusted
Compensation bill which was recently
reported fnvorahly by the senate fin
nnce committee and on the eve OF n
vote being taken on the same was re-
referred to this committee without ac-
tiOn. President Harding sent special
message to congress to obtain this re-
suit.
The principal objection which the
cx- service men have with reference to
the matter IL that numerous arguments
have been injected In the controversy
to i,efog the main issue. A lot OF stun
is written apparently by men who
have had no military service and who
have seemingly not read the bill nor
thc>cOmmittcc report upon the same.
For instance the bill is frequently
referred to ns The Soldiers Bonus
The finance committee In Its report has
the following to say In this respect:
Any discussion of this bill. It's pro-
visions and purposes. would bc lack
Ing In fairness and Justice IL II fail
ed at the outset to correct general
misnomer of the bill itself. This pro-
posed legislation is generally referred
to as the Soldiers Bonus bill. No name
could be applied that would bc more
irrelevant. II IL worse than erroneous.
1t stamps upon just and unQucstion
ell national moral obligation the lisign-
tion gratuity. The purpose Of this bill
In no sense seeks to express n national
gradtitulc by n money gift to our s,l
dicrs. 1t is not SO intended by Its SUP
pOrtcrs and the veterans Of the World
War would not so accept II. 1t Is Just
what its title reads. n bill to prorlde
adjusted compensation for the vctcr
ans of the World war. II is not bonus
hill. and fnirness to country and sol
dicy alike requires that We should cN-
1t.
In simple. plain English. the pmr.
pose Of this hill is to give to the sol
dIcr who offered his life with his ser
vices compensation that will more
nearly approach that Of the laborer
who remained Mt home. secure from
danger. and whose compensation In
creased from 200 to 200 per cent and.
measured by the amount Of labor ac-
tually performed. far beyond these
figures
The fnct is. that the cx-scrvicc men
do not want n bonus. They want ad-
j,lsttSl pay to approach In measure
a little more nearly that which was
paid to the most common lnbOrcr who
remained at home.
Not few organizations have seen
fii to commend the president and SEN
ate for the action which was taken In
the virtual killing Of the bill so far as
the present session of congress Is con-
ccrn.d. There Is no objection to that
The sault Is TO II" found In the far that
man" such 1r.ami 'atinns have gone on
II, ou agni +; til. l.:ll uppar.", viii
~ 'nukinc m; :'crt to work ont some
IN WHEREBY iGjusted comrf nSntlon
could he paid. The cX-servicc men know
df rot n few individuals and asaocin-
tInns. who ara 'o,tlcmning the me .lr:.
whr remained At home in pence and
safety ana actually enjoyed comfort
aud luxury Mt least on n par to those
of pre-war days.
The government did not borrow mon
ey without paying fair rate Of inter-
est. nor did It conscript industry with
out adequate remuneration. The fact
remains it conscripted men and remun-
Grated them as 1t pleased.
The department of Colorado Of the
American Legion is doing what 1t can
to see that the press. at lenst. of this
state. is Informed OF the accurate facts
In connection with the legislation In
which the exservice men are interested
The Legion welcomes critism of con-
structive nature. but 1t rcsents very
much statements which arc published
and sent broadcast which have no
foundation In fnct.