New-York tribune., 1922-08-29
Bonus Held Il 90
Great a Burden
By W adswe,rth
Senator Warns Congress
Doesn't Dare Impose.
Greater Taxes on People
Already Weighted Down
No More Spare Money
Calls bill Pawnbrokers' Ar
rangeinent: Arid Land
Amendment Gains Favor

From The TrsbuHss Wdshfa0tor, Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2S.--Declaring
that Congress doesn't dare impose the
| taxesv to meet the soldiers bonus now
and picturing the American people as
already burdened with taxes to the
limit OF their endurance, Senator
Wadsworth, in vigorous speech in the
Senate this afternoon assailed the
| McCumber bill ard declared It would
not benefit the world war veterans.
Mr.. Wadsworth, referring to a
statement by Senator Bursum. of New
York, that the bill was "a pawnbroker's
arrangement" said ne agreed with the
description. He declared almost
| laughabie" the effort to frame bill
would do and yet avoid increased
taxation.
He warned the Senate that there was
no more spare money in the country
and that revolutions were produced by
| imposing on peoples taxes which could
not be met and were impossible.
Senator Wadsworths speech against
the bill was the feature of the day
debate. Nearly the entire day was
consumed With discussion OF the
/ Smith -McNary reclamation amendment
TO the bonus measure. This amend.
nient contemplates an expenditure OF
| $3.50 100000 and proposes the reclama-
tion of arid and swamp lands for the
/ use Of the veterans 1t dlsgiayed
! much strength, and Senate leaders
said tonight it probably would be
adopted, though the Senate was closely
divided in regard to it. Some of the
opponents of the bill are disposed to
vote for the Smith -McNary proposition
on the theory it will load UP the
measure and help insure veto.
Bill Lacks Veto Strength
Senator's Willis and pomsrene of
Ohio both announced to-day they
would vote for the McCumber bill.
No one questions the bill will easily
pass the Senate, either tomorrow or
Wednesday, but its supporters ara
still lacking votes enough to over
come a veto in the Senate. Present
plans are to hurry it through confer
ence and put it up to the President
with little delay.
Senator Wadsworth's speech, cne OF
the most forceful he has ever delivered
in The Senate, began with statements
intended to refute the idea that $3.50 a
m onth was the pay of the soldier" He
said this was the base pay Of the pri~
Yates, comprising 49 per cent Of the
enlisted strength of the army. He then
gave the pay of the rest of the per-
sonnal, through the war period, be-
ginning with privates of the first class,
numbering 25 per cent of the personnel.
who received $33. He pointed out, too,
that 20 per cent was added to the pay
| for service abroad.
"No soldier who served Abroad said
Senator Wadsworth, 'got $40"
He estimated that the average cash
/ pay of the enlisted personnel, not in
| cluding food, clothing and hospital at
| tendance, was about $40.
I "Tt is so often said that we have done
nothing for the soldier went on SEN
ator Wadsworth. "The base pay of
the humblest private in the army was
raised 100 per cent in the beginning"
I Served as Pocket Money
/ He asserted the pay had not been
/ fixed with the idea that it was adequate
j compensation for the hardships OF the
soldier.
! at was generous allowance of
/ pocket money as compared with the al
/ lowance made to the American soldier
/ in the past" he said. .I'm not saying
it was too much"
He recalled that 500 was given each
soldier on discharge and also the work
| done by the Red Cross and other or
CARNATIONS for the soldier He denied
it could be said the government or the
/ people were remiss in providing for the
welfare and comfort Of the soldiers
and said he rejoiced that so much hac
been done.
This bill, he continued, "is the first
bill in the history of our country te
fix compensation for duty performed
and measure it by dollars and cents"
1 Senator Overman called attention tt