Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-07-19
BY Frederic J. HasItin.

Washington, July 1o%WW the
Federal government ever be called up-
10 pay the bonuses voted by the
various states 10 veterans OF the
World War; This question is sug-
gestod by the fact hat the CoDgress
once took action OF substantially that
character In connection with another
war. and because no many states rave
to reward their soldiers OF
l917-191S.
Following the wal Of tho Revolution
the first pensions which may DO re-
garded as a form Of bonus, were paid
by the various states, but In lTsO tho
Congress- passed an act whereby the
general government assumed the pay
ment vf such pensions ss had been
granted by tho states and this pro
vision was continued by subsequent
legislation. There has been no sug-
gestion as yet hat the burdens and
obligations OF the states incident %
tho recent war 10 similarly taken
over. but one Of these days some
worthy Congressman may seek 10 en-
dear himself to the people back
homo by proposing to dip into the
Federal Treasury for the funds that
otherwise must come from tho state
strong-bOxes.
TO date II OF the states nave paid
or are paying bonuses. while in 3
others all the necessary steps have
been taken except the raising Of the
--....1 e. = Ngc.rnn1Nm. nFn 70 no
taken on bonus legislation. In all. the
bonus appropriations actually made or
proposed in these 23 states aggre-
gate considerably more than three
hundred million dollars-s331 .739 900,
TO be exact. according TO departmental
figures available in Washington. This
Is not n ~stupendous sum. as govern
mcnt expenditures 90 these days. but
Il represents substantial items In the
budgets Of some Of the states.
Moreover, practically ali this state
generosity has been provided for by
bond issues and the taxpayers Of the
various commemorative will not real
ize fully tho burdens they have
assumed until the bonds come due an'
must ba redeemed or refunded Tha
will be the time when II 81 most like
lly that a proposal will 10 heard t.
shunt the load N on Uncle Sam
broad shoulders. OF crurse 1t is i'm
probable that such n scheme woui
get by M long as only % states ar
Interested, but 81 "A sufficient numbc
Of the other states place themselve
in the bonus column it would be n
difficult matter to get the requisit
votes for the congressional action in
. dicated.
What the States Pay.
e. Allowances by the states 20 n
n veterans take various forms and ar
z IF varying amounts. They inclUd
% pensions for the sick and WOUNDED
assistance for educational and vC
? ~catlonaI training and cash bonuse
Q The latter are based on length Of sol
vice and range from so cents 90
Der dav. with maximum payments
J. from 500 10 5000.
In connection with ststs actio
along this line and the proposed FeC
! eral bonus 10 is interesting TO revie
70 the rewards Of war heroes dating bac
n 10 early colonial days. The Ne
England militia which Joined q
y British Army in the invasion
Canada were paid a TOT bounty,
- were those who wintered ct Loui
!. burg In 1860. When the Revolutlo'
- airy War came on volunteers in q
= Continental Army received smi
=, grants of money and land from :
- government. and as the enemy W
~ especially liberal in this respect
- competition developed that led Wa
a. ington at one time to fear the Il
OF his army unless the Congress "
more generous. The states ga
bounties Of varying values. Virgin
70 and New York voting lands, but
1880 there came a crisis when Was
C. ington had 70 offer 5000 each TO
RI tain his veterans and finally. in orr
mt to demobilize his army IN 1893, p
nd suaded the Continental Congress
nd give the officers a bonus equival'
to five years full pay
n Washington himself. by the "
was n beneficiary of h land gra
ng to soldiers Of the French and Ind
war. Lord Dunmore Of Virginia Y
re- authorized TO offer bOunties Of ID
Ill to all officers and soldiers who
ed served in this war, the grants RAJ
Ike ing from 5000 acres for field offic
icy to 5000 acres TO captains. 200 &C
he 10 subalterns or staff officers and
acres 70 privates. Washington sec
ed patents in his own and other c
GERS names for $4,000 acres.
which his own share was 1000.
These grants were much larger Il
those promised officers and priva
of the Revolutionary War when c.
neIs were given 500 acres, majors
captains 300. Heutenants 200 n n
commissioned officers and enlisted r
KS 100. while major generals recei
100 acres and brig1diers $50 &C
40 Four thousand square miles or 20
600 acres, including some II coun
in northern Ohio. were set aside
take care OF these grants.
Four million acres OF bounty "a
"e were given to the soldiers Of the
ere OF 1912. while 70 survivors OF the NJ
can and Indian wars 5S,652,450 az
II Of the public domain were distrlou
under $50. 203 warrants. Then came
Civil War and under the Act Of
land scrip worth S1.25 per acre
out distributed for $500. 900 acres.
Bounty Jumping a Business.
,th. Al volunteers in the Northern Al
by during the Civil War received c
bounties. cities and states compel
with each other and with the Fed
the Government, While many indlVld'
.eSs hired substitutes 10 take their PIE