The Washington herald., 1921-07-23
GRIFFIN BILL WOULD PAY
= SOLDIERS ALLOTMENTS BACK
New York Representative
Writes Herald Of His
Measure to Return Ex-
Service Men Deductions
From Their Army Pay.

To the Editor, The wsshinston Herald;
I woud greatly appreciate II II
you would call this to the attention
of your readers:
BY a rare coincidence. two CIR
cumstances, given wide publicity TO-
day make the fate of the soldiers
bonus bin, endorsed by the Ameri-
can Legion, a subject Of much un-
certainty.
First, the letter OF Secretary
Mellon asserts that the consumption
of the obligation to spend the sum
involved in the bonus bill, estimated
between one and one-half to hve
billions Of dollars, will utterly block
the governments economy program
and lay unbearable burden of tax
alton on the backs OF the people.
Second, DR.. Thomas W! Salmon
In his testimony before the senate
Committee investieatiHg the conoi-
tion of disabled sofdiefs 1tates that
In New York State last year. 4oo
ex soldiers committed suicide ano
that, In New York City alone, out
Of 1,735 former soldiers who applied
for mental treatment only 900 could
be taken care Of.
The impression made by these two
facts will cause the bravest bonus
advocate to faiter and I fear that
the result will be that nothing
whatever will be done to keep faith
with the men who carried our nag
70 victory.
1t is doubtless true that now,
nearly three years after the war,
the financial distress OF the ex-
service men has been. in large
measure. alleviated. They have re
adjusted" themselves and the need
for financial relief Is perhaps not Sc
urgent as when they discarded the
khaki. Nevertheless we owe them
a duty which we ought to fulfill.
Anticipating this outcome of the
bonus agitation. / introduced In the
last Congress H. r 1888 provid-
ing for the return to all ex-service
men of the War Risk Insurance
premium. and for the return to the
enlisted personnel Of all allotments
for the support of dependents, de-
Quoted from their pay. 1t 10 well
known that the pay checks Of our
men in France. after the deduction
of insurance premiums and allot-
ments. left them barely enough to
buy cigarettes
have always maintained that II
was fundamentally unjust to make
the men pay insurance during the
war. They were the government
more than they were their own risk
1t was the governments duty to in
sure it's men, as well as its ships
against the casualties of war.
Likewise, when the government
took men from their dependent
families. il should have assumed the
burden and not have thrown Il or
the backs OF the men who were
hghting for their country.
The return of this money is q
matter OF abstract justice. 1t will
be an evidence of good faith. II
will relieve present distress and en-.
able the men to bear with patienc,
the delay in the enactment of tn,
land settlement. home building ant
other features Of the American
Legion bill.
have introduced this bill in thu
present session III. r. 257. It's cos
will be only a fraction OF tn,
amount involved in the Americar
Legion bill. II will give, on tn,
average. S2io to each ex-setvice mar
and they can get It Immediately in
stead OF waiting for three years.
ANTHONY J. GRIFFIN.
House OF Representatives, Wash
ington.