The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-04-21

OPPOSES BONUS
j. L. 5iilnssIey Takes Strong Stand
Against Bill for Benefit Of
Ex-Service Men.
by JOHN C. TRIcE

TALLAHASSEE, April 20.-In an in
terview with the correspondent of the
Journal, j. l.. Billingsley. of Miami, state
commander of the American Legion, takes
strong stand in opposition to the bonus
bill for the benefit of the legion pro-
posed by Representative ]. F. Busto. of
Key West. Mr.. Billingsley makes sew
eral points against the bill in his inter
view. Mr.. Busto says that the bill will
be taken before the American Legion
convention at Orlando May Is and II
Mr.. Billingsley says, Wen be there"
He fought the bonus idea at the Tampa
meeting last year and the Legion at that
time went on record as against such
legislation.
Personally and as a member of the
American Legion I am absolutely opposed
to a cash bonus from the state for all
able bodied ex-service men, says Mr..
Billngsley. I'm any event it is. in my
opinion, a matter to be handled by con
gress rather than by the legislatures of
the several states.
The legion of Florida is already on rec
ord because at the state convention held
last June at Tampa the so-called Billings
ley resolution opposing a cash bonus was
adopted by a vote of more than two tOI
one.
The natural impulse of the average
American is to give the ex-service men
anything in reason that is suggested, and
that impulse is likely to get the upper
hand of better judgment.
II have great respect for the opinion
OF those who entertain a different view,
and do not intend to question the mo-
tives of any one. but it is a fact we
found in the national convention that the
strongest support of the cash bonus came
from the manufacturing and industrial
states which have large foreign popula-
tom paying little or no individual taxes.
a fact which was emphasized by my
General Albert H. Blanding,
at Tampa. when he spoke in opposition
to the cash bonus plan.
"While the eX-service men deserve |
credit for doing their full duty. yet we
must remember that the folks at home
helped to win the war and also deserve
some consideration. How about the lit |
tie farmer who borrowed five hundred
dollars from his bank to buy liberty |
bonds They are now worth considerably |
less than what he paid for them and
draw only 1-2 per cent interest. Yet he |
is paying the bank per cent for the
Oan, with the bonds up for security.
Should his taxes be increased in order
to give able eX-service men some more
money?
ut is contended by some that as others
who stayed at home made large sums of
money out of the government, then man
ifestly the service men who sacrificed
so much should be now paid an additional
sum, but think the attitude of the cX-
service man should be, that although |
others did impose on the government in
the time of its need, he was not only
man enough to fight for the principles
of our government, but he is also man
.,rr, CafII RI ClE fNYs f1nn az
simply because a few others unjustly
profited by the war.
IF the government does not owe the
ex-service men any money, then any sum
they ask and receive will be a gift in
return for patriotism, and our records
should then be marked paid in full. "
In that event the present kindly feeling
and the esteem of the American people
for the ex-service men would be greatly
lessened.
THE sick and disabled men should be
we'll cared for regardless of cost. Con-
gress has been very liberal in it's laws
and appropriations for the men, but prac-
tical administration of those laws and
has been disgustingly in
efficient. but those conditions are now
being rapidly changed for the better. due
largely to the splendid work of the Amer
lean Legion.
In round numbers Florida had about
10, 900 men in the service and something
like 81 per cent of them were negroes
The paItry sum of $3.50 to each ex-serviCe
man would amount to s6OO0 900. Is it wise
10 now turn more than 100000 over 70
the negroes in Florida who were in the
service?
And how about the precedent? II IT
IS right fo. this Legislature to give a
cash bonus it win be right for subsequent
legislatures to do likewise. Three hun
lred thousand dollars year to able
,odie6 ax-servtce men In Florida
Florida Is a new state and needs every
Iollar it can raise for improvements, and
he tax money should be used 20 pay
school teachers and building good roads,
,a.her than for cash bonus to able
,cd;ed ex-service men who as rule
you'd not be materially benefited there
~, and in many cases the money Wouio
,e quickly squandered.