Connecticut western news., 1922-03-02
ONE SENATOR'S VIEWS
 ON BONUS QUESTION Synopsis of Remarks of Sena- tor Joseph Irwin
 France

Whlch 1 propose Tor accepting from the. Allied Nations, the former Ger man Colonies, and cables in payment of the debts owed us by the Allied Nations. These Colonies constitute a vast empire of natural wealth, of boundless opportunity out of which could be paid the bonus which is be- ing urged for the recognition of the services of our heroes in war. Here in these territories vast, as you see from the maps, are gold, copper, tin, coffee, rubber, diamonds, petroleum and priceless other resources as we'll as extensive territories for homestead settlement and for the extension of American commerce. The cables as shown in red on the larger maps, would provide direct and unmolested communication for the Government and American merchants. for com mercial and news agencies, to reach the most distant portions of the world in prompt and profitable manner
 "The men who made up the invin- cible armies of the Republic were not animated by mercenary motives when they responded to the call of country and offered to place upon the altar of the Republic all that they held most precious, even life. They have not been and they are not now mercenary. When they returned from war they only asked that their disabled and diseased ones should be tenderly and generously cared for by a grateful Republic, and that those who were able might find opportunity for useful and profitable employment in which they may further serve their country and the world. We did not at once provide adequate care and compensation for the afflicted ones, and we did not adopt the measures which would have averted the econo- mic conditions which have caused millions to be unemployed. Now a .considerable number of our ex-ser- vice men ask for a bonus to help them in their plight caused by the economic conditions in the country and in the world. .e
 Before it would be safe to adopt any bonus plan we must take steps to relieve agricultural, industrial, and financial depression from which we are now SO sorely suffering.
 Cause of Business Depression
 Our great industrial expansion activity and prosperity, during and immediately after the war, were due to our enormous export trade. With the collapse of our export trade we suffered an industrial paralysis and grave depression in every line of business. In 1920 our exports were $8,R2s,016,307, while in 1921 they were $4,485, 122 ,696, loss in export ttrade of $3,742, ,893, ,611. This huge sum representing our loss in trade would be sufficient to pay four mil lions of men wage of $70 a month for year. 1t is not strange thas in 1921 we had from four to six mill elions of men unemployed, and that many ex-service men suffered acute distress. This decline in our export trade occurred when Europe des. perately needed for reconstruction all that we could ship in food and commodities, but. Europe could not buy because of the huge debts to us, totaling in government obligations and open accounts much more than $15, 1000, ,000, ,000ln @Aa
 Unless some way can be found to liquidate Europe's debt to. us, so Europe can buy from us, our business can not revive, the exchange situa-. tion can not be cured, the budgets of European countries can not be brought:to balance, and the shortage of food .iraw products, and manu- factured goods in Europe will cause facute distress, .disturbances, and q further disiptegration of the social and economic structure of the world. : Few seem to realize that world wide shortage of food is imminent if we do not restore the vigorous flow of commodities in the arteries of in- ternational commerce.. , Note the alarming facts that in 1910 Russia exported to the world over 226 millions of bushels of grain, enough to supply with bread for a year 45 millions of people in the industrial countries. Tn 1918 Russia exported 122 millions, in 1915 T millions, and now she requires at once for import SlALy VI " N feed her people and seed small por- tion of her tillable land. The exports of wheat from the United States have been declining, and because of the demoralizing prices western farmers are now planning to reduce their crops 129o next year. Millions in Russia are famishing, millions of Germans are suffering, slow starva- tion, and there is under nourishment or starvation in other lands. Forty millions of people who live in the industrial countries must depend on food on exports from Russia and the United States. The strike in Ger many, the result of hunger, must grow to serious disturbances unless l Germany can import food. "It would be perilous for us now ] to undertake to pay three to five (Continued on page 8