New Britain herald., 1922-02-25
BUSINESSMEN SEEM | OPPOSED ID BONUS
Chamber Of Commerce Reiercn-
 dunn Is Against It ..

Washington, Feb, 25.---Seventy-twc per cent. of the membership Of the Chamber Of Commerce of the United States in a referendum have voted against the soldiers bonus bill pend. Ing in congress.
 As the majority against the project Ia In excess of the two-thirds neccs- sary to commit the chamber to any policy itself in opposition to all lcgis. lation that proposes the payment oi financial gratuities to able bodied cX- service men, but will urge that "ade- quate relief for the disabled still re- mains the first step"
 The fairness of the referendum was attested by the commander of tho American Legion on January II.
 In announcing the decision of the membership of the Chamber through ont the country Elliot II. Goodwin who conducted the referendum, said
 Headers of the American Legion had expressed to officers of our or ganizaton the opinion that the action taken by delegates at our last two an nual meetings in opposing the cash bonus did not report the membership as whole
 Chief Reason for Referendum
 This was the chief reason which inspired the officers of the National Chamber of Commerce to undertake the referendum, the result of which was announced today"
 The referendum, besides calling for n yofa m Cnch hoppS nd ,ort;G,,t ,> plan, asked an expression by the Chambers membership on three other propositions contained in the so-called veterans bill pending in congress. The result as shown by the ballots puts the Chamber on record for a national system for reclamation for the benefit of ex-service men and for vocational education for ex-serNce men. A two-thirds majority, necs- sary to commit the Chember, was lacking on the question of govern mental appropriations to enable ex- service men to build homes The propositions submitted and the vote on each follow:
 1. Do you favor national system of reclamation to be initiated through adequate Federal appropriations and to be carried out for the purpose of affording ex-service men an oppor- tunity to cultivate the soil?
 For, 1,249; against, 452; carried.
 2. Do you favor national legisla tion and appropriations to enable ex service men to build homes?
 For, 1922; against, 66s; no deci- sion.
 3. Do you favor national legisla- ton and appropriations to enable ex service men to obtain vocational edu- cation?
 For, 1878; against, 316; carried.
 Do you favor national legislation for a general bonus, whether paid in cash imnpdiately or with payment deferred through use of certificates?
 For, 467; against, 1,221; opposed.
 Extent of Voting.
 Votes were cast by business organ izations in 375 cities. 46 states, in the District of Columbia, Alaska and Hawaii and by American chambers of commerce in Cuba and Mexico. More than 72 per cent Of the votes cast were in opposition to the cash bonus. Both classes of the national cham bers membership, local chambers Of and trade associations re- corded themselves against the bonus by a more than two-thirds majority.
 Of the thirty eight referenda that have been taken by the chamber the number of organizations voting against the bonus was the largest re- corded, with the exception of three. More than the average number of smaller organizations cast ballots.