The Cordova daily times., 1921-02-05
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4. 1921
sMALL PROSPECT FOR BONUS
 LEGISLATION

What are the prospects for sol dier bonus at this session? This question is being closely watched by the more than 4,OO0,O0O veterans of the World war.
 1t Is predicted, on grounds that seem to be reliable, that this session of congress will not pass legislation of any kind regarding a soldier bonus. If bonus bill of any kind is passed | it will in all probability not be satis- factory to have veterans, and the whole subject will have to be thrashed over again at the next congress.
 There are several reasns why a sol dier bonus has little chance of pass age at this session. One reason is that the time for adjournment of this sessin is so close, now less than 30 days away, that there is really not time to consider the bonus question properly. Another is that the vet | erans themselves differ so widely on just what form the bonus should take that congress does not know to this day just what all of them, or a large majority want in the way of a bonus. This divergence of opinion was shown at the recent house hearing where American Legion men advocated one sort of bonus, Private Soldiers and Sailors Legion representative of an other, and still other veteran organ nations something else. These dis agreements necessarily cause con- gressional committees to hesitate about the form the bonus should take, | There is so much difference concern ing the bonus that many congress- men favor passing no legislation of this kind until the veterans can them 1 selves agree on the form and present tkeir united requests to house and senate. The whole matter Is confused and in a snarl. This situation is shown in the senate, where the fin ance committee has the following pro- positions for bonus legislation under consideration:
 1. A bonus of $1 per day, less the fixst sixty days service, payable in tsu quarterly installments, with a small additional bonus for foreign ser vice.
 2. A certificate of the bonus pay naent, whatever Is agreed upon, with a face value of 40 per cent additional, payable in 20 years with A. per cent interest.
 s. Vacations training with an al fowance at the rate of $1.75 per day HD to the amount of the bonus certi. ficote allotment.
 4. A payment of 140 per cent of the bonus agreed upon to aid in purchase of home or farm.
 5. Land settlement to amount of 140 per cent of the bonus allowed to buy and equip farm.
 6. One payment of $500 cash.
 Every one of these proposals has it's advocates among the veterans, and also it's opponents. Consequently the finance committee does not know what to do to satisfy all the former fighters.
 There Is another great objection to bonus at this time, or in fact at any other time. This Is the cost of the bonus. It is estimated that almost any kind of bonus will cost from one billion to five billions of dollars. and business men and many other tax Havers have been protesting vigor- ously to members of congress against Saddling such huge additional debt on the people. It is this objection more than the disagreements among the veterans themselves, that might prevent enactment of any bonus leg. fslation whatever, and if a bonus bill fs finally put through it is this ob. lection which will greatly delay It's Passage.
 At the next congress the veterans will be better organized, and if they ssn agree on a united plan of action sbout a bonus they will have a much better chance of securing something T.