Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1922-02-10
SOLDIERS CLAIMS RECOGNIZED

pam equitable adjusted compensation.
This is not juggling of words and
phrases in presenting to the Govern
ment the claim of men who believe
they have perfect right to ask for adj
ditiOnal compensation for services rem
dered. The REGISTER does not pre-
pose to thresh old straw in arguing for
former service men, 1t is not submit
ting a brief in behalf of ex-soldiers on
the ground that they have not been
paid for risks they endured, or the
patriotic services they rendered to the
country during the war. 1t simply be-
lieves that the taking of men from
peace time pursuits, leaving dependents
and business to get along as best they
could, and suddenly turning them back
into civil life again without any pro-
vision made for readjustment of their
mode of living or opportunity for self
support, resulted in millions Of dollars
in obligations being incurred which the
returning soldiers were powerless to
meet
1t is not a bonus that the Legion
asks, but adjusted compensation WHICH
will materially aid in putting thous-
ands of men and women onto their
feet, so to speak, by permitting them
to cancel the liabilities incurred when
their earning capacities were suddenly
stopped by CONSUMPTION into the army,
and provide for them means that will
enable many veterans Of the war to
make fresh start in their chosen oc-
equations
It is not theory that Congress is
asked to figure on in enacting law to
aid former soldiers, There is no sim
iliaritv with the numerous claims of
and corporations now pend
ing against the Government claims of
uncertain merit for war contracts. The
members of Congress know that thous-
ands of men left good positions in civil
life when called to the army, that they
did not find their jobs waiting for them
on their return home, and that they are
now in actual need OF money to keep
themselves and families from want
Congress has not forgotten that in
June 1918 the Government granted a
bonus of $4,000 to government en-
ployees not engaged in active warfare,
and since that time four additional
bonuses of $4,000 each have been paid
to government employees drawing sal
aries up to and including S2j0O00 a
year Many employees of the govern
ment are today receiving the bonus,
and the bonus is justified on the ground
that the fixed salary of the employees
was not adequate compensation during
the PERIOD OF the wal
A comparison of the pay and bonus
received by government employees and
the compensation of the boys who wore
the khaki and responded to the call
for service in the army may not be pro-
per or patriotic, but it certainly does
add material strength to the claim of
the soldier boys for an adjustment OF
for the services they
rendered to save the nation. The bon
uses voted to government employees
were given workers on the ground that
their expenses had mounted to such IN
extent during the war period that they
we're entitled to more money. The pay OF
The soldier with dependents at home
was less than 5000 month after de
Quoting the family allotment and in
5uranCe premium, and retiring from
service he found that obligations had
jiled up against him, that his place i'll
had been taken by another,
md that he was financially unable to
start over anew He is asking the
Government to do something towards
-e-establishng him on a peace basis
md heartening him by strengthening
MS pocket book sufficiently to enable
him to face the problems of the world
With a few dollars, dollars that the
ortunes of war took from him
This is not a question of sentiment or
patriotism as some selfish interests and
designing politicians have tried to make
t, but it is purely an economic prob
EN- that Congress has to deal with.
The propaganda of the Chamber OF
Commerce and certain newspapers OF
he country which have opposed the
Measure even to the extent of question
ng the merit of the soldiers claims and |
heir patriotism in asking Congress for
what they honestly believe they are
entitled to, is the apparent opposition
If large corporations who have enor-
nus claims now pending against the
and other financial enter
,rises who are fearful that their large /