The New York herald., 1921-06-19
us. CHAMBER OPENS
fight ON WAR BONUS
Nationwide Trade Body
Doubts Value of Cash
Payments.
in FAVOR OF OTHER AID
Cites Fact That War Put
Mortgage Of $1,135 OH
Each Family.
TELLS WHAT STATES DID
Condition of Treasury, 1t Is
Said, Would Hardly Stand
Additional Load.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YORK HrR,LD.
New York Herald Bureau.

washington, b. G.. June is.
The Chamber OF Commerce of the
United States opened national cam
paign to-day against the proposed cash
bonus for ex-service men. The or
ganization favors other forms Of aid
and is particularly insistent on the
physical and mental rehabilitation of
the wounded and disabled, but it
doubts the value of cash bonus
seriously questions its cost, and does
not believe it would be of lasting
benefit.
In the brief that the Chamber has
sent to the President, Cabinet, mem
bers of Congress and i,4oe trade and
commercial organizations, the deelara-
tions ads.'ted at the last meeting with
supporting evidence are given in de-
tail. Among other things the brief
shows that war has laid a mortgage
approximating $55.ooo,OOO on every
Congress district of the country, or an
amount approximsting s1,135 on each
family in the United States.
AS set forth in the brief the chamber
opposes that part of the adjusted
compensation measure now before Con-
grees calling for q cash bonus or it's
equivalent In certificates The chamber
recognizes the consequences follor.ng
the payment of bonus exceeding ST.
Oo0,0O0.000 in addition to the enormous
sums snent and scheduled to be spent.
Chamber outlines staxd.
THE position taken by the National
Chamber is consistently in savor of
these sorms OF aid which are clearly
OF most lasting benefit to veterans of
the world war; says the hr4es i.It
believes without question that those
physically g. mentally injured have the
first ard Ereateat claim Oh available
funds. Only when adequate provision
has been rnede for these men should
others be considered and then the form
OF aid whiob clearly tends to upbuild
and establish the veteran as a self
supporting member Of the community
should have a decided preference over
payments in cash or equivalent. the
results Of which on the individual in
his attainment OF thrift. economy and
self reliance are doubtful.
The continual excess of Government
expenditures over revenue represented
by budget deficiencies is a Serious OBJ
stacle to economic rehabilitation and
our financial obligations are such that
we must face the necessity or consery-
ing our resources and lessening our bur-
den Of taxation. This country, unlike
our Allies has been able TO date to
meet every financial obligation to pay
all interest when due and the inainte-
nance OF this policy is of supreme Inn
portance.
"Gererous as our country wants TO be
In its Treatment of our veterans we
must face the facts"
ArEumento Of 10th Sides.
Some Of the arguments advanced in
favor of and agaihft the cash bonus
and what the Ststee have done for ex-
service men are contained In the brief.
Every State In the Union save SIX
according to the pamphlet, has taken
actor on legislation beneficial to vet
erans. These benefits range from the
establishment of Soldier settlement
boarde to State loans for education pur-
poses. free scholarships In State normal
schools. colleges and univS sites, loans
for -eclaiminF land and providing rural
homes: aid In the purchase of farm ma
chinery and livestock. In securing
business ~ trade appret ticeshp nclud.
ing tools, UP to loans amounting to as
much as $4,000.
ut must be remembered that a
proposed National cash bonus would
duplicate in greater or less extent the
bonus already voted by various indi-
vidual States. The following represents
the most authentic information regard
ing the amounts involved In State
bonuses passed UP to May, 1921: Maine,
100000; Massachusetts,, $40, 0,O,V, 900; Min
nesota, s2o,0oO,0oo: New Hampshire,
100000; Michigan, no estimate: New
Jersey, $12,0p.000; New York, S45 600, 600;
North Dakota, no estimates Rhode Isl-
and. $3.50, ,Doj South Dakota. /oD.ooo;
Vermont. %, 0OO, ,0Oo: Wisconsin. sl5,UOOUp,
and Washington, 81, 10000
$40 Month In hay state.
"Certain additional factors should be
noted however. In Massachusetts, for
example, a specific bonus of $40
month was paid to each of the citizens
OF the state In service between Febru-
ary 8, 1911, and January 10. 1918, the
total sum involved amounting to APP
proximately sS,750.oco. North Dakota
has adopted extensive Legislation ex-
tending to ex-service men aid along agri-
cultural and educational lines. The APP
propriation OF 100000 by South Dakota
is to be administered under direction
OF a soldier settlement board with au-
thorization to make loans to ex-service
men up to $4,000 Wisconsin, In addi-
ton. offers bonus in the form Of
education, estimated at total cost of
slb,O0o,000.
I'm addition legislation is pspdng in
the following States. and theW is indi-
Gated the approximate cost where au-
thentic figures were obtainable: Cali
fornia, s1l,0oo,000; Colorado. loan fund:
Ohio. s25,0oo. 600: oregon. s3s2s,00o; Mis-
souri,, no estimate; Nebraska. no esti-
mate; Pennsylvania, no estimate; Ten
nessee, no estimate.
THE estimate for oregon is based
upon an allowance Of $500 man for a
four year educational course with n
total enrolment OF 4,0s5 mem"
CONCERT ON ELLIS ISLAND.
The Goldman Band and it's conductor,