Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-02-11
SOLDIERS RoNrs rRoPisM.

SOL Wins WVNtS tUV"'r"s
rAo revival % the soldiers bonus |
problem In Congress has aroused
WIDESPREAD opposition and Secretary /
of the Treasury MELONS recent lucid
statement cf the Consequences of the
rfo,rc, has scceler~tsd the growth pr
sentiment against the plan. one
uanth aso the drift wps so strong In /
political circles for the proposition /
that n VAS generally conceded tho
measure would se through Congress.
flsht or wrons. Hut recently there
has developed a eountrywide question
"a 30 the hni Men have begun 60
nsure out how n might be expected
to aroct their business generally and
the United states. with tho dimcult
reconstruction whica remains 10 be
worked cut Tho newt psychological
STATE was ono of new anxiety and re-
nev.d rcseimisni. which found imms-
diats reflection IN IN. reaction IN tho
security markets. and a decided halt
IN the forward progress of Industrial
and business operations.
A shr.~a iudse % national affairs.
whose professional duties enable him
to rain an unusually clear insight into
matters q, Washington, said recently
ths, the srcatest weakness IN the gov
ernmcnt % this country IL the cow
sr,,ics o, its lawmakers. He stated
that whn. nc, NOR. than haif hun
dred members Of Congress believed
the rrorcs>a Soldier. pcnus bill ought
o. h~ecne law. he acyht-d. n a vote
we're taken today. ths, more than
shs, numbsr would 70 On record
against u
Considered a. a reward for the SER
vic~. ~ those Americans who rar,ici-
ra'sa IN the great wnr, he saia the
tcuua would he utterly inadequate.
really pai,ry. Millions o, mon would
receive only fractional part 81 the
compensation 20 which they would ne
iustly entitled. while the shares Of
other millions would be relatively FAR
sreater m proportion te services rem
asred. Yet tho small sum which each
man would get. se continued would
help % make ar aggregate smount
o. large that i,s payment rnisht ee-
come a crippiins load upon tho ma
tion's economic resources and energies.
which already are ovsr.axed with
the economic reconstruction q the
world dependent IN large measure
upon America, be argued. move
which would seriously weaken the
economic power of ths nation would
Involve grave bur; 20 civilization, from
which this country would not escape.
The bonus would cost IN. government,
approximately 1890. 600 900 on the
basis % estimates prepared for the
House ways and means committee b,
nscal officers q IN. army. navy and
Marine corps.
There Ia other criticism % the SOL
diufs Bonus bin
10 many persons ifs provisions ap-
peer unjust. There IL general agree
mens that the nation cannot do
enough for tho gallant boys who suf-
fered dreadfully IN the war through
being sasned. wounded or disabled
hut why, u 10 asked. should those
who never rot 20 France. who never
know the horrors OF war bs rewarded
~ fully ~ the sunercrs7 /, 10 pointed
cut too, that hundreds o, thousands
Of those who never got across goi
somsihinE IN their wsr training which
they never could have obtained The,
sot education. physical development
snd broadening Of their mental hort
non that should be OF incalculabl,
value
u is pointed cut also that million,
81 persons IN civii M. made sacrifice,
IN money and service IN war worl
fully 40 great ss those who never go
beyond training oamps They do no
set Cor pensions or compensation
They ser,'ae no less than did thos,
who wen, 70 training camp.
should the Soldiers Bonus BIN b.
put aside. which now seems possible
although fer from certain. the efcc
would be- very eliminating 70 all busi
mess of the country which would Zee
relieved Of a further burden which
under .sisuns conditions II could n
arord 10 take on.
At least one Ssnafor f,.ofx, Wlar