The Washington herald., 1922-03-06
WAR BONUS BILL
WILL Be Sent TO
HOUSE THIS WEEK
Full Committee Will Act
On Measure To
morrow.

With opposition in most quarters
largely dissipated by the new SOL
der bonus plan, the legislation TO
adjust the compensation Of the men
who fought for the United States
in the great war is scheduled TO
reach the calendar Of the House of
Representatives this week.
Formal action on the bill framed
by Republican members OF the
House Ways and Means Committee
will be taken by the full committee
with the Democrats participating for
The first time tomorrow. The in
tention Is to report the bill to the
ing 1t for passage probably for an
other week.
Seen as Best ISOLATION.
Comparatively little criticism has
developed against the new adjusted
service certificate plan among men,
bers OF Congress who are favorable
to bonus legislation. Such attacks
as have thus far been launched
against the new plan are from those
who are opposed to any bonus leg
islation whatever.
The opposition to. a sales tax
emanated chiefly from members of
Congress favorable to bonus legfs-
lation. This opposition was suffi-
cient to cause the Ways and Means
Committee to abandon all attempts
to report a bill imposing new taxes.
The Republicans favorable to some
kind of bonus legislation. who
fought the proposed tax, are in
clined to the belief that the pres
ent scheme offers the most feasible
solution of the Troublesome problem.
Attacks shift to Future.
Attacks, which will be made on
the bill, will be based chiefly on
the fact that the ultimate financial
burden to the government has been
increastd by possibly as much as
$1,000, 10000 under the modified
scheme. Members of Congress will
be accused of shifting the burden to
future generation while getting
credit from their constituents for
soldiers bonus which does not
levy any additional taxes on the
public.
In reply to this criticism members
of the Ways and Means Commit
tee declare that Congress owes an
obligation to the former service
men which must be discharged at
once and the Treasury will be much
better able to bear the financial
burden at a future date than at
present.
Answer to Defrees.
While admitting the present plan
may mean an ultimate increase in
the cost to the government, they
point out that this is not a certain
ty and that recent expressions of
opinion by officials of the American
Legion have indicated that an over
whelming majority of the former
service men would have elected to
take the certificate form OF com
pensation in preference to a cash
bonus under any circumstances.
The criticism of Joseph H. De-
frees, president of the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States, rel
ative to the loan feature of the
bill, is not held to be justified by
those advocating the measure. Gov.
w. P. G. Harding, of the Federal
Reserve Board, is quoted by mem
bers Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee as declaring that the loans
made by banks on adjusted service
certificates will have no appreci-
able effect upon the financial situa-
tion. Mr.. Defrees has expressed
fear that the scheme will mean a
return to wartime conditions, un-
der which the banks carried a con-
siderable amount OF loans secured
by government obligations.
Provisions Are Outlined.
Under the bill as approved unani-
mously by Republican members of
the Ways and Means Committee, a
veteran who is entitled to receive
less than $50 in adjusted service
may receive cash. Veterans in this
class include those of the rank of
and lower grades, who
served in the army, navy. or Ma
rine Corps, more than sixty days
and not more than l10 days. The
basic adjusted service pay is 81 per
day of home service and SI.25 per
day of overseas service in excess
of sixty days.
Veterans entitled to more than
$50 may choose between four forms
of compensation. as follows:
D. An adjusted service Gel tificaie
on which a loan up to so per cent
of the face value may be obtained
from a national or State bank i'm
2. Vocational training aid.
3. Farm or home aid.
land settIenaent aid