The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1921-08-18
Borah and the Bonus Bill

L AAElE Is cAA EAAAAAA lADAA NAAN aEN~N--
=. delivered in the senate by Senator
Borah on July II when the question
- of recommitting the soldiers bonus
S bill was under consideration. The
I senator voted to recommit not as a
] matter of expediency, but because
}. am opposed to the bill in its present
e form. and shall be opposed to any bill
: which carries any cash proposition in
- it," The senator said in part:
e Mr. President those who went to
S war and never returned. in some in
. stances, left behind wives and chill
e dren and dependent parents. For all
d such we should have the deepest con-
Germ, and the government should, in
so far as it may stand in the place
2 Of the dead.
And those who went to war and re-
turned. but returned shattered IN
mind and broken in body, mangled in
limb. and afflicted with disease, they
are, or should be, the objects of the
governments vigilant and constant
and generous care. 1 am sure we
have not done for them what we
should have done up to this time.
They present the most pathetic sight
in all the struggle of life They are
the .saddest memory of the war. They
have exchanged health and the pur-
poses and dreams of youth for sick
ness and pain and anguish, and in
many instances isolation and despair.
For them the taxpayer is willing to
carry greater burdens. For them our
people are willing to make additional
sacrifices.
But when L am asked TO unlock
the treasury. of the United States to
those who We're fortunate enough to
pass through the ordeal unscathed,
when am asked to pay from
the public funds large sums to those
who have received no injury 1 am
bound to ask myself upon what prin-
] ciple may l do this. The money is
not mine. l can not give it to char
ity or in the spirit of a good fellow /
1 must find some legal or moral basis !
upon which to proceed. The commit /
tee, with commendable candor, but .
with a singular disregard for the deep
significance of the statement, places
the whole thing upon the low plane
OF cash for services rendered. You are
greatly mistaken if you think that the
great body of the ex-service men will
thank YOU for this standard or that
they will upon reflection appreciate
your measurement of their moral
worth. Here is what the committee
says:
1.-THE purpose of this bill in no
sense seeks to express a national
gratitude by money gift to our SOL
diers. 1t lis not so intended by its
supporters and the veterans of the
world war would not so accept it. 1t
is a bill to provide adjusted compen-
saton for the veterans of the world
war
adjusted compensation Compen-
sation for what-for service when the
country is in peril-for defeating the
enemy? How would you compensate y
men for such service? Such service q
defes compensation Were these men u
the hired soldiers of the republic? In d
one breath we are told we went to
war for humanity and civilization; in D
another for compensation. The COM o
mittee doubtless felt that in getting
rid of the word bonus and inserting n
the words adjusted compensation it Il
had fumigated the bill; that it had Il
raised the measure from the low "
evel of a gratuity to the high level a
Of cash for services rendered. But if 1T
mistake not, they have fastened a g
stigma upon the bill which will be w
listasteful for all time to the spirit of b'
he true soldier. 1 can understand al
he question of a gratuity. l can nj
wen understand the thanks of a ma az
ion being doled out in this age of sc
in dollars and cents But
doubt if the soldier will want to DC
ave his children and his children's w
hildren point back to this measure ell
nd say that this was for services 10
endered by my name or blood to the ga
ause of human freedom in the great ell
.orld conflict yo
THE soldier can leave to his chill va
rem no richer legacy than a record tr.
] this world war. 1t will be looked &c
pom in after years as in some coun- yo
'ies they value the sanction of royal pr
lood. Il will constitute. in a sense. sts
n aristocracy of patriotism. How no
iuch that legacy will be increased in his
orth and in wealth by having writ to
m across it adjusted compensation W.
leave the brave soldier Of this coun- fin
v to reflect upon and to estimate
hey have now that which no one de'
IN estimate, no one can price, and we
b one can take from them When pat
lis bill passes and they accept it eri
ey viii have that which can be fin
rchased in any market and which an'
the common jade of all business sen
iiusted compensation pee
" Adjusted compensation'-wha is ne
e basis of the adjustment? Ger nut
inly not the basis of common hire. gre
a man leaves home and family and trio
nders his life for his country or for TINS
manity shall his compensation be WIN
AIDED and nvad nv tho nov of 4lo eve