The New York herald., 1922-08-30


soldier. have always been against II.
believe the majority of the soldiers m
my State are against II. / am going to
vote against this BILL
Mr. Colts View of Measure.
Senator Colt, who had indicated his
opposition to the bonus until to-day, de-
clared that the fundamental question
underlying the pending bill was whether
the United States will manifest it's graft
tude by rewarding the soldiers and
sailors who rendered faithful service
during the war.
"-All of our associates In the war; con-
fronted with conditions far less fortunate
than ours" said Senator Colt. have
treated the expenditure called for by this
Lill as a necessary and indispensable part
Of their war expense and they have not
hesitated moment in assuming this ad-
ditional burden.
There is no use of course. In denying
the fact that 1t Is an additional burden.
although we can bear this burden much
easier than our associates OF the war.
Convinced. however, that this bill In
wolves a principle vital in our national
life most. essential to the honor and
future welfare OF the country l can
not conscientiousl, vote against It
Senator Colt concluded with stanza
from tne poem III fahucAs ieAu'
Mr.. La FolIette's Argument.
Senator La Toilette Wis.), in advocat-
ing the passage of the bonus bill de-
clared that the country demanded I'M
mediate action on 1t and that his only
objection was that 1t made too meager
provisions for our soldiers. The WIS
consin Senator reviewed tho history o.
the leading nations In their treatment
OF their soldiers.
II agree that the compensation provided
I'm this bill Is not enough" said he, but
Ii does not follow that, because we do not
pay in full we should pay nothing at all.
This is not question of patriotism or
of sentiment 1t Is simply a cold hard
fact that we suddenly took 100000 OF
our finest young men out OF civil iife at
the very time they were entering upon
their careers and sent 100000 Of them
overseas in the military service Of the
country.
When they came back to civil life
It was not to find their former posi-
tions waiting for them as they had been
promised when they went away, but to
find their positions filled by others. Then
came deflation. unemployment and dis
tress even for those who had not been
in the army.
rs it any wonder that In this situa-
tlon a million ex-Serv1ce men were out
OF employment last winter? Even more
will probably be out of employment next
winter IL present conditions continue.
Even 100000 are out of employment to-
day. according to the records of the
American Legion alone"
Referring to the financial features of
the McCumbe bill. Mr. La Toilette said:
There need be no difficulty about
raising the money required to furnish the
adjusted compensation provided in this
bill. 1t is my hope to see a plan OF
taxation provided to raise the money
necessary to carry out the provisions of
the bill. Restore and improve the excess
profits tax recently repealed and IL that
does not provide money enough in
crease the tax on large incomes and
raise the Inheritance tax on vast for
tunes, many OF which were made out OF
the war. and you will have enough. or
more than enough to give the soldiers
their adjusted compensation without
burdening the Industries OF the country
with additional taxation. es
This bill simply recognizes the exis-
tence Of an obligation to the ex-service
men and provides for some slight pay
ment on that obligation. Not the former
service men alone but the whole country
will benefit as a result Of the passage
OF this bill"