Perth Amboy evening news., 1922-03-04

tional Chamber of Commerce and
big business" but by the hard
work of the eX-service men them
| selves. If q grateful nation takes
| over three years to partially recog-
rize the just claims of the physi-
cally unfit. what treatment can the
| economically handicapped expect
unless he IL williRg to get out n
fight?
Can the nation afford it? Any ma
ton that cannot meet its obligations
ia insolvent and no one would dare
/, say that of this country. The Ma
tional debt today is twenty-four oil
lions of dollars from which should
be deducted eleven billions OF dol
lars owed US by Il fomer allies
| leaving a net debt of thirteen (13)
billions of dollars. The National
debt of England is thirty-nine (S?)
billions of dollars and Of france
around forty-six (46) billions. Yet
these countries accorded just n
liberal treatment to their ex-servlce
men and woman and, in addition
maintain immense armies n ma
vies. Economy in government! Ger
tainly. But why always at the ex-
pense of the e~X-service man!
fTcccQSIll . LOto VI
we revere in Revolutionary war
history not only received a. bonus"
hut actually got it before they en-
tered the service. Washington n
LAFAYETTE didn't think they we're
SELLING their patriotism" when a
grateful nation repaid them IN
| some measure the debt they owed
| them. And the same held true in ev-
arv war since that time.
How can it be paid? The Secre-
tary of the Treasury after much
opposition is even considering pay
ment from the accruals to the Ma
tional Treasury saved from the re-
duction in armament, ETC. AS an
ordinary citizen and one not versed
in Economics or high finance" 1t
might be suggested that a suitable
tax be put upon the excessive IN
comes of the twenty-four CAD
Thousand new acknowledgements
| Of the World War. 1t might also
be politely limited to III late allies
that the interest, at least, on tnelr
debt of ten billions of dollars due
lis would be acceptable at this time:
| We shouldn't pin a great deal Oh
| faith on the fruits of this last sug-
gestion for it Is usually found that
| those nOSl NiOlCiie'y SPPo
| Adjusted Compensation on eco
nomic'' grounds and inability Of the
| country to stand the added burden
| are Just as firm in their belief that
this ten billions of dollars Of our
allies debt should be shouldered up
on the taxpayers of the country.
why? Because 1--WE are better able
to stand it."
The duty of every one-not a rev
i'm time of war is to sacrifice. That
duty Is just as impelling in time OF
peace. Would that we had a little
more of the wartime spirit that
made every soldier a buddy" ev-
ery sailor a "gob." and every one
Of the boys "Our boys" Less
talk of our debt Of gratitude" and
a little more practical demonstra-
ton of appreciation. probably
some of you. as an ex.service man.
don't need help. but don't let that
make you forget your hundreds OF
thousands Of former "buddies' VINO
do. 49,
Why not a refendum from all the
people-not certain classes! Ana
Of that result no one can doupt.
Thanking you for the priViiegs
OF using your column I am,
Respectfully yours.
RONALD KLECkNER,
Captain District No. l, Middlesex
! County Adjusted Compensation
/ Committee. the American Legion.