Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-19
The HQSkin Letter o ' : Rs:s.
WAR BOUNTIEs AND PENSIONS.

Washington, D. c.. July 16.-W1n
the federal government ever be called
upon to pay the bonuses voted by the
various states to veterans OF the
World War? This question is sug
gested by the fact that the congress
once took action of substantially that
character in connection with another
war, and because SO many states have
decided to reward their soldiers OF
1917-191S.
Following the war of the revolution
the first pensions which may be re-
garded as a form of bonus. were paid
by the various states. but in 1883 the
congress passed an act whereby the
general government assumed the pay
ment of such pensions as had beer
granted by the states and this pro-
vision was continued by subsequent
legislation. There has been no sug-
gestion as vet that the burdens and
obligations of the states incident to
| the recent war be similarly taken over,
but one of these days some worthy
congressman may seek to endear him
self to the people back home by pro-
posing to dip into the federal treasury
for the funds that otherwise must
come from the state strong boxes. :,
To date - of the states have paid
or are paying bonuses, while in 8
others all the necessary steps have
been taken except the raising OF the
money and in s r~eferendums are to
be taken on bonus legislation. In all,
the bonus appropriations actually made
Nv ran0cn rp thora SC cfotnc oO0ro.
gate considerably more than three
hundred million dollars-S331 10000
to be exact, according to departmental
figures available in Washington. This
is not a stupendous sum. as govern
ment expenditures go these days, but
it represents substantial items in the
budgets of some of the states.
Moreover. practically all this state
generosity has been provided for by
bond issues and the taxpayers of the
various commonwealth will not realize
fully the burdens they have assumed
until the bonds come due ami must
be redeemed or refunded. That will
be the time when it is most likely that
a proposal will be heard to shunt
the load off on Uncle Sans broad
shoulders. OF course it is improbable
that such a scheme would get by as
long as only % states are interested.
but if a sufficient number of the other
states place themselves in the bonus
column it would be no difficult matter
to get the requisite votes for the con-
gressional action indicated.
What the States Pay
Allowances by the states to the
veterans take various forms and are
of varying amounts. They include
pensions for the sick and wounded. as
sistance for educational and vocational
training and cash bonuses. The latter
are based on length Of service and
range from 30 cents to 81 per day,
with maximum payments of from 500
to $500.
In connection with state action along
this line and the proposed federal
bonus il is interesting to review the
rewards of war heroes dating back
to early colonial days. The New
England militia which joined the
British army in the invasion of Canada
were paid a money bounty. as were
those who wintered at Louisburg in
100. When the Revolutionary war
came on volunteers in the continental
army received small grants of money