New-York tribune., 1922-02-22
RepublicanCluh,
Brands Bonus
Party Suicide
Resolutions AssaiI Move
as Madness and Ask
for Probe Into Use of
Funds Now Appropriated

''"> I'o" appropriated
Opposition by the National Republi-
can Club to the granting Of Federal
bonus "to any soldier who cannot show
a wound or who was not disabled in
the service" was recommended in
resolution adopted by the clubs COM
mlttee at the monthly meeting last
night
The report declared that "as party
politics the proposed bonus legisla-
ton spells suicide" whilo las public
policy, it is madness"
At the same time the committee re-
ported favorably a resolution calling
for Congressional inquiry into cx-
penditures of sums already appropri-
| ated for the aid of disabled veterans.
to the end that the country may be
assured that the veterans are receiving
the fullest possible benefit from the
appropriations made IN their behalf"
Not Question of Care
The report declared the question of
care of disabled or INDECENT soldiers
was not involved, going into detail in a
description of the hospitals and sol
dlers' homes maintained by the govern
ment for its incapacitated fighters and
citing Secretary MELONS figures show
Ing that the government already is
spending nearly S450000 900 year for
relief of disabled veterans.
"Ihere is, therefore," it continued.
"involved III the proposed soldiers
bonus no question of the nation fulfill
ing its obligations to it's disabled vet
erans. That obligation is, as the Sec
retary of the Treasury has pointed out,
being continued and is paramount and
the expenditures, therefore, will be
very heavy for years to come
"A Federal soldiers bonus, on the
other hand, is an attempt to appraise
patriotic service in terms Of dollars and
cents, with the certain result of demor-
alizing the public spirit of the nation
by distributing hundreds of millions,
even thousands of millions, of dollars
as gratuity.
Bad Even If Funded
''If the money was at hand with
which to make this distribution the
proposal would be highly Objectionable
on grounds of public policy.
When, however, the money for such
purpose must be raised by imposing
u6W taxes aL Il Time Wnen LNo business,
the labor and the agriculture of the
country are staggering under their
tax burdens it is unthinkable that
steps should be taken that might we'll
result in increase Of unemployment, in
still greater depression Of agriculture,
and in indefinitely postponing the re
Nival of business, while the great army
of taxpayers are compelled to provide
the huge sums that would be needed
for this unwise purpose.
"The committee believe that the Ma
tional Republican Club should take the
strongest possible ground on this sub
ject ard should make an appeal to Re-
publican members of Congress not to
be misled by the clatilor of individuals
and organizations which may have a
personal interest in the financial and
economic conditions that have been
pointed out by the Secretary Of the
Treasury and to act solely from the
viewpoint of the highest public in
terest.
Ask Full Statement
"Moreover, Republican members Of
Congress should be urged to put before
the enrolled voters of the country
clear and simple statement of what
this adjusted c2lpensation of soldiers
bonus would mean to our public
finances and to the burdens which the
taxpayer must bear. In the light of
this information they should then a.
certain exactly how great is the de-
mand for this action on the part of Re
publican voters and how far it comes
from those not in sympathy with the
Republican party, who would be only
too glad to have that party assumer re-
sponsibility for increased taxation and
prolonged business depression"
After lively debate the report was
adopted by vote of about 60 for ) or
against.
Noble B. Fox made long argument
against the report and in favor of the
club going on record for some of the
alternative features of the adjusted
payment plan recommended by the
American Legion. He said the country
was normally obligated to do for our
men as much as Great Britain had done
for hers, when the English soldiers re-
ceived bonus Of at least S400 apiece
He was followed in similar vein by
Alexander Holtzof and j. A. Whitcomb.
Newbold Morris and others took the
other side, arguing for the adoption of
the committee report. One of the sup
porters of the committees report said
that in a broad sense the nation was
under no moral obligation TO the vet
Grams, as every young man in q republic
must hold himself in readiness to per-
form the duties of citizen. He also
said that hundreds of thousands of
men were too old to get into the army
did their full part at homeland some
of them went through hell TO sustain
the government and help win the war"
The report was signed by Nicholas
Murray Butler, chairman; Jules Bache,
James c. Blaine jr., Cornelius N. Bliss
jr., Thomas C. Desmond, Frank f. Ew-
ing, William W. Hoppin, Joseph Leven-
son. Samuel McCrne Lindsay, Stuart
Mcnamara, Newbold Morris, j. Van
Vechten Olcott, Henry W. Taft and
Peter Fucker.
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Cory7,o,, rIrootv Innsoa