The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-08-12
BONUS BILL UP
American Legion in Campaign
for Compensation Measure.
Passed Last Legislature and
Now Up to Voters.
ST Per DAY FOR EX-S0LDlERS
Would Add 80 Cents to Each
$1,000 Valuation.
More Than $4,000 Kansas Men
in World War.
ST Per DAY FOR EX-SOLDIERS


Simultaneous with the beginning of
publication of the proposed soldiers
bonus compensation law for this state
in more than 800 Kansas newspapers,
the state compensation committee of
the American Legion has begun its
campaign of education to acquatnt the
voters with the provisions and merits
of the pending measure. This an
nouncement was made here today by
Donald H. McIvor, executive head of
the committee.
The former service mems compen-
sation measure passed the last state
legislature. but because a debt Of more
than 100000 must be put before a
referendum of the people, it will be
voted on November z at the general
election If approved, it will come up
before the 1928 legislature for final
action before becoming effective. Nc
Ivor explained
This law, if passed, will provide 81
q day for all men who served with
the United States armies during the
World War and who were residents
of Kansas at the time of their enlist
ment or induction The law provides
for a bond issue to cover this soldiers
bonus. These bonds il IS also stipu-
lated. shall be retired at the rate of a
million dollars annually for twenty
five years. The state tax commits
sion, Mr.. McIvor said today, has fig
ured that the average cost to the tax
payer for payment of this debt TO the
states defenders will amount to less
than SO cents per year for each $1,000
of assessed property valuation.
Z at will be remembered" the COM
pensation committee mead added,
that in 1921 the average rate for all
taxes in Kansas was approximately
$50 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.
mean that an average of SO cents only
would be added to that figure. 1t will
also be recalled that Kansas is free
from any Indebtedness and therefore
~ - A.
most of the other states which have
already done So"
Some States Vote Cash Bonus.
He called attention to the states
which have so far voted cash COM
pensation for World war veterans,
Ohio, South Dakota, Maine, Mime
sofa, New Jersey. Oregon, Vermont,
Massa chusetts, Missouri, North Da-
kota, Rhode Island, Washington and
wisconsin At this time, he said,
Iowa, Florida, Illinois. Indiana, Kan
sas, Maryland. Montana and Pennsyl-
vania have put up to voters the ques-
ton OF state payment of compensation.
In ALL" McIvor added, forty states
have passed some kind of beneficial
veteran legislation"
THE objector who says the federal
government alone must adjust the
compensation of our former soldiers"
he continued, also loses sight of the
fact that Kansas as well as every other
state in the Union has paid its soldiers
for service in the past, in addition to
regular government pay"
The American Legion in Kansas, he
said. is committed to support this
measure because of the overwhelming
sentiment among former service men
favoring it's passage. A referendum
conducted by the state executive COM
mittee of the Legion on February IS,
1921, on this question indicated this
overwhelming majority for the bonus
measure and the Legion has placed
itself actively behind the bill.
More than $4,000 men OF Kansas
entered the World war, it is shown
by figures at Legion headquarters OF
this number 64,15O enlisted in the
army, 10,26O in the navy, 1900 in the
marine corps, and 5000 in the Off
cores personnel. OF these men 2,450
died in service and 500 were given
discharges other than honorable.
Those who were not honorably dis
charged are not eligible to receive
compensation under the proposed law,
Mr.. McIvor pointed out