New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1921-01-14
EX-SERV|CE MEN
FEEL AFFRONTED
SENATE COMMITTEE iNTiMATEs
THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED
WITH BONUS" MONEY.
1T Is A PETTY SUM AT MOST
Spokesman of the American Legion
Declare This Reason for Opposing
the Bill is a Reflection on the Whole
People.
BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.


BY EDWARD 8. CLARK.
WashingtOn.-When the senate com
mittee on finance makes It's report OF
the measure TO provide adjusted com
pensatlon for veterans of the Work
war" 4,Ooo,O10 former soldiers vii
know the fate of the so-called bOnui
bill. The measure passed the hous.
Of representatives May -, 1920.
There is belief in Washington TO
day that the senate committee vii
report unfav"rably on the bonus pro
vision of the house measure. This
will be a right or wrong action, nc
cording TO the viewpoint Of the indl
yidual, but there probably II not n
soldier who served IN the great war
who viii not resent one of the very
patent reasons for the dissemination
Of the senators to pay the soldiers IA
bonus In cash.
II was evident at the hearings which
have just been held in the room Of the
finance committee that the members
of the committee, or AT any rate most
Of them, are firmly convinced that the
vast majority Of Americans who were
willing To risk their lives for their
country cannot be trusted with the
enormous sun OF bonus money, which
In no instance by any possibility can
exceed S625.
This, the legion men say, is a re-
Election on the whole American people,
for as their Spokesman, Gilbert Bett-
man and Col. +. W. Galbraith, In effect
said 10 the committee: THE soldiers
represent the best element Of Amer
lean manhood, and 1t is unjust that
they should be made the subjects of
economic prejudices.'
"Should Be Given Those Who Need H."
There are thousands of Legion men
who do not believe in the bonus
and have said so. They have put their
opposition on the high ground that
money, beyond the service pay, should
not be accepted for n performance of
patriotic duty. Every legion man, how
ever, believes that n bonus should be
paid to the man who needs II, and
WHO was 'set back" by his willingness
to do his duty while others, unwilling
ones, shirked the colors and fattened
their purses during the period of the
Sinking.
This is written by an eN-service man
who has been opposed to the bonus
except In cases where its granting Is
obviously necessary. II Is written by
II who cannot profit by the bonus
If the bill shall pass, because no Off
Ger above the rank of captain comes
within the provisions OF the act. So
much for Reputation of personal
prejudices in the matter.
Talks in Washington with Legion
men Of all ranks and of no ranks make
It appear that the resentment is deep
because of the economic prejudice
shown by members Of congress in this
case against the men who went into
the trenches. Questions put by the
members of the finance committee
made 1t actually appear that there
was n feeling that the minute the
4,0O0,0o0 Americans received their few
hundred dollars bonus, they straight
way would spend 1t in rlotous living.
1t was q mistake In the first instance
probably, SO service men seem 10
agree, to call this proposed act of con
gress 'the bonus bill" 1t is much more
than a bonus bill.
Five Propositions offered.
There are five alternative provisions
In this bill. In other words, a veteran
has a right to take advantage of any
one Of five propositions, the first of
which Is the so-called bonus. Under
this provision any commissioned officer
below the grade Of a major and any
nOn-commissloned officer or private
would be given SIPS for each day Of
overseas service, and 81 for each day
OF home service, in excess of sixty
days, In the military or naval forces
of the United States. after April 3,
1917, and before July /. 1919. Under
the bin no bonus pay for home service
shall exceed 500 and no pay for over
seas service shah exceed $500.
An alternative choice for the men is
an adjusted service certificate" A
NtAFihll ~ flf'AS W tdhf blit VI llAfHt
get a bonus pay certificate, the
pay Increased forty per cent plus the
interest thereon for twenty years al
the rate Of 4la per cent per annum.
compounded annually. If he chooses
TO hold this certificate for twenty years
he gets full payment thereon. II he
die In the meantime the bene-
named will get the money. 4,
Another alternative proposition IL
Vocational Training Aid" Under this
provision a man can undertake q
of vocational training approved
by the federal board. and will be paid 4,
s1.75 for each day of his attendance
on the course. The other alternative ,
propositions are n payment Of money -,
10 the veteran actually to aid him in
improvements on a city or .
suburban home, or on a farm which Is =
not selected under the land settlement
provision of the act, which Is another
alternative choice given TO the veteran.
Plans for the Inauguration. {
II seems to be definitely de-
.ided that an inaugural hall will }
,e included in the festivities at /