Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-01
An Argument for the Bonus
To the Editor o, The Ercrtnp PuhWc Ledpsr:

To the Editor o. the Erertno Public Ledger:
Sir--I believe your editorial. eve.
the Government in the issue Of March
u, has struck the nub OF the bonus
question. though not In the manner
intended.
A few weeks ago I possessed no def.
mite opinions as to the merits OF the
bonus. but during this period the fall
laciOus reasoning expoundch by the
anti bonus exhorters and the character
Of most of the persons and institu.
tlOnS engaging in nnti-bonus TRADES.
have aroused thoughts that lead me to
the following conclusions:
First. We. the Government. when we
began organizing for war. made a tre-
mendous mistake in failing to draft
labor and industry. and In inauguratiny
the cost-plus, contractor bid up wages
system.
Second. Because Of that mistake a GER
tain huge portion Of our population was
given enormous compensation in wages,
salaries and profits. while at the same
time another portion of our popula-
! tion (those in military scrvice) was
given Il compensation that was pitifully
small in comparison.
/ Third. That situation was manifestly
unfair to the latter class. because.
though each class was doing only its
! duty. the military class was perform :
ing the more hazardous dutI and de.
served TO be compensated at Lost equally
well.
! Fourth. Since we. the Government
made the mistake that caused this in .
justice. we. the Government. should re- =
gret ii and should recognize our right
and duty TO rectify it il possible.
Fifth. The only way that we. the Gov
ernm"nt can r"ctify thar mistake is Ia
award now additional compensation TO
that portion OF our population which
was unfairly treated during the war.
Personally, ] do not see how To get
away from these conclusions and.
though there may be differences Of opin :
ion as to the proper amount Of cora
pcnsation and the method for raising
the money. 1t seems ridiculous to hurl
charges, such rs commentaries of
PATRIOTISM" at bonus adhercnts. Pa
trotiSm. If genuine. exists in peace
time as well as in war, but we. the
Government, do not expect our clerks
and employees to work for nothing
When the EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER
prints the advert isement for sale Of
Government goods, or the old peace
time recruiting ud. it charges and re-
+ ceives payment.
/ Your editorial il misleading. per-
haps unconsciously, in that it conveys to
the head of a family the idea that he
will contribute certain amount in
lump sum to create the fund for a
possible bonus. That would mean that
1t was intended to raise the entire
I amount Of the bonus requirements by
/ nne years taxes. which, as you know
has not been suggested.
| But follow your own line of rea son. &.
ing with regard to that West Phila-
delphia block of ten families that you
describe Consider 1t during the war
At least ten men from that block were
engaged in wartime work that netted
them more than one dollar day in ex-
cess of soldiers pay. Ten dollars a
day for two years is over $GOOO.
/ Following your chain OF thought, it
appears that each family in the block
contributed $500 per year to give extra
pay to these war workers. 1t seems
to me that "John Doe and Richard
Roe have a case. even on your own
all in one -yedr basis.
JAMES Y. KEATING.
Philadelphia. March IS. 1922.