Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-13
Congress and the Bonus

To tho Editor Of ihe Eucnino Pablic Ledger:
Sir Party leaders have suddenly dis.
covered that 1t Is wrong to take money
out of the Treasury for the benefit of
private individuals. They have scru-
pies against levying taxes or issuing
bonds for such purposes. They are
against the sales tax, because they are
afraid of the farmer vote and the busi-
ness mems vote. During the war bo-
muses. Of several hundred million dollars
a year were voted to railroad stOckhold-
crs. appropriations were voted to pay
bonuses in tie form of inflated prices
to owners Of camp sites, contracts were
let out by the Government at cost plus
10 per cent. which allowed the con-
tractor to pay any cxorbitant price nee
essary for materials. labor and take all
the time he wanted to finish the job. and
nt the end charge the Government 10
per cent of all money spent, as his guar
antee. the result being that the Govern
ment paid three or four times as much n
=. private concern would pay to have the
same work done. Appropriations were
made to the United States Shipping
Board to build up a mercantile marine.
and there were no accounts kept by the
Shipping Board of the funds that were
spent. Millions of dollars were appro.
HODOuN KNOWS
where the money went. nor Is there any
account ut hand to show that 1t was
spent for airships. The members of
Congress who allowed such things TO bo
done under the plea that it was neces.
airy. in order that everything had to
be done quickly in order TO carry on the
war. are now consistently fighting tho
bOnus.' ~.
But when ex.soldiers ard sailors ask
for bonus it is different story. Taxes.
levied or bonds issued for such pur-
pose will cause initiation. increase the
cost of living, create panics. etc. 1t is
perfectly proper to tax ex service men
for bonuses <for the benefit Of the poor
profiteer. but 1t is wrong in principle to
give the soldiers a bonus. In several
Of the small States in the United States
bonuses have been paid to soldiers up
to $500. In New York State. the EN-
pire State, Il bonus bill was passed by
Tammany Hall Legislature and sub.
mitted to the people. with the result
that the people gave majority of 800.
600 in favor of it. The law was de-
clarcd unconstitutional by one of the
higher courts of the State. 1t is doubted
that the Legislature passed the law with
the intention of the soldier ever get
ting the money. The Legislature must
have known the law was unconstitu-
tional when it passed if. but, as
things are done in the army, they passed
the buck to the courts. In Pcnnsy!va-
mia they have also killed any chance Of
the soldiers getting bonus from this
State.
The potriOts who stay at home are
opposed to the bonus. Many of these So
called patriots are among those who join
thO National Euar,l Jurin0 ,Nooo t;,nos
and VIXEN war is declared they develop
all kinds of disabilities. such rs fiat
feet, cold feet. weak eyes and other
such weaknesses. In time of peace you
will always find them in tie front lines
at all social functions and public cele-
bratiOns, but in time Of war you could
ndt find them with a microscope.
JAMES a. REAMY.
Philadelphia. March 8, 1929.