Evening journal., 1922-06-06

payments are to be from British OF
other foreign loans. We would start
with service pensions years after
war instead of 25 or so years
thereafter. From past experience
10 has been computed that such a
pension list would entail. on this and
other generations. a hundred billion
dollars or more. Such burden stag
gers the Imagination. A substantial
part of the people would then live
at The expense OF others and the
health of the nation would be cor
respondingly affected.
Ex-service men may be roughly
classified into the able-bodled and
the disabled. The government is now
spending 40 million dollars a month
or $50 million dollars a year for
disqualification. vocational training
and other benefits for the manned
and disabled This is an average tax
Of S24.O0 a year on every family in
the country. The claims for disabil-
lty in service will multiply with the
years so that this annual appropria-
ton will probably reach $1,000
900. A billion dollar congress" once
signified a government OF reckless
extravaganza, although IL provided
for all national expenses. However.
everyone Is agreed. that the nation
Is discharging a sacred trust in
treating the disabled generously.
But the question remains-Should
we also make appropriations to
cover a pension list OF 4 million
men most Of whom are able-bOdied? 3?
We have learned that a nation at
war now means the mobilization OF
every man and woman. young and
old. The agricultural. Industrial.
commercial and social life OF the
country are Communicated for war.
OF the "a million men OF military
age, millions were taken. Had the
war continued throughout 1919, as
expected, million or two more
might have been required. Would
the nation afterwards have taken
on million young and able-bodied
wards7
Is there no constitutional or legal
protection against a pension roll OF
million able-bodied men? / know
OF none. The Supreme Court has
held: Regular allowances paid to
an Individual by government in
consideration Of services rendered
or in recognition Of merit, civil or
military, are called pensions. Mill
tary pensions are divisible into two
classes-invalid and gratuitous. or
such as are granted for eminent SER
vices. irrespective Of physical dis
ability"
General Upton In his famous lit
tie book The Military Policy OF the
United States" briefly summarizes
the national policy as to bounties
and pensions after each war. He
says-'The bounty system was
child Of tbs Revolution and called
into being when the Colonies denied
Congress the power of compelling
enlistment. II grew steadily during
the long struggle for independence.
only to reach its full maturity in
our late civil war. The liberal
ity of the Government in the mat
ter Of pensions has not been con-
fined to the brave men who have
been manned in battle. or whose
health has been ruined by disease.
Il has been Justly extended TO the
widows and orphans OF soldiers,
from whatsoever cause, who have
perished that their country might
live. In proportion. too. as wars
have recorded. public opinion has
justified Congress in the extension Of
pensions. until thousands OF men
have been added to the roll who
never saw an enemy. and whose
terms OF service may not have eX-
ceeded two weeks"
George Washington accepted l5.-
600 acres OF land in Ohio for his ser
vices in the Indian War and cash
payment OF $500 for his services and
losses in Braddock's Campaign, but
declined TO accept any payment
after the Revolutionary War. In
1924. Congress voted General Lafay-
cite 5000. 600 and lands in Florida
Abraham Lincoln received extra pay
for his services in the Black Hawk
War.
million able-bodied American
ex-service men claim service pen
sions. bonuses. adjusted compensa-
tion-call il what you please-at a
cost. to this and future generations.
that I have indicated. Are all en-
titled to pensions-those at home as
well as those in France. those in
the base and intermediate sections
as we'll as those in the advanced
sections in France, those in line SER
vice in France. Italy and Belgium as
well as those at a perfectly safe dis
lance behind the lines, those with |
Sims as well as those patroling the
home ports? Why should not ser
yice-pe nsions or bonuses be confined |
10 those who were under fire from |
he enemy on land or sea? The char |
,cter of the service and the sacri-
Ace involved could be made the !
lest.
1t is we'll 10 bear in mind the line |
service Of the American Forces. The |
World War lasted years and |
months. With the exception Of a
-ew combat divisions brigaded with /
he French and English during the /
md Of 1917 and in 1918. the ef- /
-ective cooperation OF the American |
Armies in the line covered a period |
of about months.
General Pershlng. as Com |
Of the American |
Forces. made his |
anal report to the Secretary OF War /
n September 1919. quote the fol-