Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1921-01-06
BONUS BILL FOR EX-SERVICE
MEN LIKELY TO PASS
SENATE
Senator McCumber Now In Favor of
Bonus Bill

| IStudtOI NASSu"USA ANVW Xu Il avn VI
Bonus Bill
That some form of adjusted-com-
pensation legislation in favor of the
veterans Of the world war will pass
the Senate at the present session
seems apparent upon the conclusion
Of the public hearings last week be-
fore the Senate Finance Committee at
which representatives of the Ameri-
can Legion and other veterans organ
izations appeared in support of such
action. Senator McCumber, senior
senator from North Dakota, and act
ing chairman of the Finance Commit
tee, issued a statement on Friday to
the effect that he was in favor of an
adjusted-compensation act, and would
vote for such measure if it was
compatible to the best interests of the
country. The senator stated that it.
was his earnest desire that the SOL
diers of the World War be given pro-
per recognition, and he added:
VIC HoNS oh CllOlAuOuo uCICIt W
meet, and conditions of the treasury
very bad and industrial conditions of
the country almost appalling. am
certain that the Committee of Finance
will lock with favor on the PROPOSE
tion, but the immediate, as well as
the vital question now, to my mind,
is what time payment under the bill
can be begun.
"This is simply my own personal
view. l cannot speak for the COM
| mittee."
The Five-Fold bill, as it passed the
House, contained five optional fea-
lures, namely: (D adjusted service
pay" at the rate. Of s1.25 a day for
overseas service, and 81 90 day for
home service: (2) adjusted service
certificate" of face value equal to
the adjusted service pay" plus 40
per cent, and bearing interest at Az.
per cent; (3) Vocational training
aid" total amount not to exceed 14O
per cent of the adjusted service pay;
f{4) ~"Farm or 'horn o. s
The veteran to buy home up to ttie
amount of 140 per cent Of adjusted
service pay otherwise due; and Gland
settlement aid," which would give GER
tain specified aid to the veteran set
tling the contemplated projects of the
government under this act.
AS it was estimated that great
majority of the veterans would choose
the cash payment plan ttthe other four
plans were made more attractive in
hope that many would avail them
selves of one of the latter options.
1t seems barely possible that the
cash payment plan may be eliminated
entirely in the Senate, or at least that
payment under that option be de-
ferred until 1929, or even later, in
order to relieve the strain upon the
treasury just now. Then, too, it is
quite likely that the President would
veto the bill if it contained any pro-
vision for the immediate expenditure
of such a sum of money as would be
required to pay bonus to even a
majority of the men who were in the
service. However, if the other fea-
lures Of the bill are made available
upon the passage of the bill, and the
cash bonus payments deferred for q
period Of even two years, the average
service man would probably select one
of the other compensation plans.
1t is estimated that 1900, ,o00, 900
would be required to pay off the cash
bonus under the provisions of the
present act. Senators assert that
this could only be raised through a
bond issue and generally agree that
such course at this time might prove
disastrous to the country.
However, the members of the COM
mittee have evidenced great interest
in hearing the service-man's side of
the argument, and seem willing to
meet him half way upon the matter
of adjusted-compensation. Mr.. H. H.
Raege, of the Legislative Committee
of the American Legion, on Friday
seemed we'll satisfied with the atti-
tude of the Finance Committee, and
said that he expected the bill to pass
the senate shortly after the holiday
recess. Whether the House bill
would be amended in regards to the
cash bonus, he stated that he was un-
certain, but that in his opinion the
bill would not be materially changed.
From Senator McCumber's state
ment it can be assumed that he will
readily support any fair proposition
that is agreed upon and, as Senator
Gronna came out strongly in favor Of
adjusted compensation legislation
sometime previously, North Dakota
veterans will be well represented
when the bill comes before the SAnatc