Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-03
Colby Meets Ripon
in Judgeless Debate

Colby upheld the question "Resolv-
ed: That Congress should pass the
veterans adjusted compensation bill"
against debating team from Ripon
College. Wisconsin,, Thursday evening
in the Colby chapel. The debate was
judgeless. President Arthur J. Rob-
erts Of Colby College presided and be-
fore starting the debate he introduced
the Ripon team-John Harold Bumby
'23. Spencer Tracy "a and Curtis Nc
Dougall '24. The Colby team was
composed of Clifford Peaslee 100. STAN
ley Estes '23 and Arthur Berry '223.
Mr.. Peaslee was the first speaker.
He stated the proposition Of debate
and called attention to the fact that
1t was not new question. MIR. Peas
lee gave detailed explanation OF the
bill, saying in. part that the bill was
not gift of gratitude but replace
ment Of an economic loss. That tho
bill supplies compensation for only
those who deserve II. A man may re-
ceive cash, an adjusted service certifi-
cate. vocational training, or farm and
home settlement. No one knows what
the soldiers will accept, so the cost
Will be unknown to the government
until the bill, is tried out.
Now" said Mr.. Peaslee. "let me
advance my first argument. namely,
that the compensation is just. The
mon who stayed at home received far
more than the soldier who went across
the sea. There was a great wave of
prosperity in the United States while
the soldiers were receiving 81 a day.
When the soldier came back the pros
perity was gone and in many cases
the soldier could find no work.
Mr.. Bomby. the first speaker for
the negative said that they were not
debating the advisability Of general
compensation. He stated that the
soldier besides his $50 a month re-
ceived clothing and food enough to
bring the pay up to $10SO a year or
$50 a month which was as much as
the average man outside the army
received. Also the dependents re-
ceived a compensation. which in
many cases brought this pay up to
American workman was forced TO
compete with the enormous rise in
prices. People saved money during
the war but it was not the working
man. From 1911 to 1913 the increase
in bank deposits was larger than the
increase in 1917 and 1918 which were
prosperous years. The excess pro-
fits tax took any extra money that
was made during the war. Quoting
Roger Babson the famous statistician,
Mr.. Bomby said thousands of firms
had lost more in the past two years
than they had made during the war
time. In conclusion the speaker said
that he trusted that he had proven
that we owed nothing to the ex-ser-
vice man in the way on monetary
payment because he had suffered an
economic loss.
speaker for the affirmative that he
would prove that We had a moral
obligation to fulfill. in giving the SOL
diers compensation. that the pay
ment was matter Of national honor.
We appeal. said Mr.. Estes not to
those who. have a vital interest in
any particular soldier but to those
who wish to uphold the honor Of the
country. All the. other countries
who participated in the great war
have given far more than the United
States has given to her soldiers. It
cannot be that we will withhold just
compensation from those who have
protected US.
Mr.. Tracy was the second speaker
for the negative. How can We make
a fair adjustment by the simple pay
ment Of $500, said Mr.. Tracy. Every
man would have to file a separate
claim in order to determine his
monetary loss and need. The speak
err admitted that many mad not been
proetly reimbursed, but that it
would not be right to give the strong
and healthy men the same compensa-
ton as the III and disabled. On the
other hand the payment would not
start until year from now and