The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-09-21


notice the contrast the following
bills were passed with little opposi-
tion-list prepared by the American
Legion. The Denl bill appropriating
three billion dollars to reimburse
war contractors, the War Mineral
Relief bill, carrying forty million,
an eight million dollar appropria-
ton for the relief of the shipping
Board contractors, the Railroad
Funding bill carrying five hundred
million and other measures calling
for many millions have passed the
House of Representatives without
special provision to raise revenue.
Now why should the adjusted COM
pensation bill for the soldiers be
treated differently from other bills,
and from the ordinary custom and
practice of congress? 1t seems in
credible, but every time bill for
the relic of the ex-service men
comes up our representatives and
senators are seized with a violent
spasm of economy and evidence a
mighty solicitude for the tax payer
and the dear people. A plan was
even Matched whereby the soldier
would have to pay most of his own
bonus thru taxation. Fortunately
this was defeated.
One of the most underhanded, un-
fair fights against the bonus bill is
that American can't afford to do
anything for the able bodied until
the disabled are properly cared for.
This solicitude from big business
concerns and Wall street is merely
hypocritical sympathy from the
money Shylocks. They are trying to
hide behind man with crutch to
save their pocketbooks. Why the
American Legion was the first to
fight for the disabled veterans and
at first they fought alone until their
accounts reused the nations. The
money barons with millionaire Sec
rotary Mellon at their head consider
it a raid on the U. S. treasury and
not in the light of deserved recon-
pense. The nation that forgets it's
defenders is apt to be forgotten it.
self, is what George Washington
wrote to the governors of the thir-
teen original states in 1888 and it is
still true today.
Oregon voted a state soldier
bonus of SIS a month cash for each
month served during the war, not
to exceed $500. or loan not to ex-
coed $4,000 at A per cent interest for
Industrial rehabilitation. No student
training corp students are eligible to
this bonus. Dependent relatives
can receive a dead soldiers cash
bonus. The loan could be on farm
or a home, to run from ten to thirty
years, but they cannot receive both.
l have letter from the World War
Veterans State Aid Commission
of Oregon, stating that up to
March l, 1922, 1850 applica-
tons had been filed out Of total of
$4,000 eligible. You see the ex-
service men and women are eagerly
availing themselves Of the opportun-
ity; $500 chose the loan, 35 per cent
farm loan, back to the farm move
ment, or industrial investment
seems popular, and the state will re-
ceive the benefit as all the money
loaned remains in the state and is
lent on Oregon real estate. Cali
fornia has been very liberal in the
matter Of their soldiers bonus, for
their native sons. The California
Veteran Welfare Act is as follows:
All soldiers, sailors or marines en-
listing between April Is, 1917 and
November II, 1918 are eligible.
This does not include conscientious
DIRECTORS, enemy aliens, or dis
honorably discharged. It is to give |
and opportunity to all |
those who wish to acquire farm
homes, or long time loans. They
give forty years length of time to
pay it back at per cent interest.
An ex-service man can borrow $500
on a farm, or $4,000 for home, or
$4,000 for a home site. Preference |
or priority in the sale or filing on
land is given to ex-service men.
Also a tax exemption. And the state
voted ten million dollars to put this
into execution. The nations debt
TO the veterans of the World War
Is unquestionably recognized by a
grateful people for the valiant SER
vices rendered, and any failure to
act promptly will, in many in
be equivalent Of denial of
Justice due them. Let us trust that
congress will speedily pass the adj
justed compensation bill and that