The Washington herald., 1922-02-25
CHAMBER VOTE
FAVORS PART
OF BONUS Bill
Opposes Cash Payments,
But Approves Home
Building Plan.
ALSO INDORSES
RECLAMATION IDEA
Subcommittee of House
Declares Against
Sales Tax.

The United States Chamber OF
Commerce yesterday went on rec
ord in favor of two Of the four
provisions of the soldier bonus bill.
published a highly favorable vote
by members on a third feature, but
expressed opposition to cash pay
ments.
While the chamber in its refer
endum. taken during the last six
weeks and announced yesterday,
did not commit itself by vote to
the proposition to ask national Leg
islation and appropriations to en-
able former service men to build
homes. a decided majority for this
feature was recorded
Favors Reclamation Plan.
4 vote of .O22 for the ome-build-
ing proposition against a vote Of
66S in opposition was reported
Votes committing the chamber to a
national system for reclamation
for the beneft of former service
men and for vocational education
for former service men were re-
corded.
Definite opposition was registered
against the cash bonus by ~ per
against and 4s7 for a cash bonus.
In the House yesterday the sub
committee charged with providing
. means of financing the bonus
turned down President Harding's 8
proposition for a sales tax. The
subcommittee will report today to
s. the full Republican majority of the
Ways and Means Committee.
Veterans Charge Bias.
Coincident with the announce
ment against the cash bonus by the
United States Chamber of Com
uerCe. the Veterans of Foreign
Wars issued a declaration that the
rrfcrendum was typical OF the un-
rHir and biased attitude of the ma
t-oual chamber" The statement
vas issued by Capt. Edwin s. Bet
--tefnefrd. r..-ctdtrmsr-of the iegis-
Iative committee, veterans Of For
r.En Wars.
The manifestation of the United
.tatcs Chamber of Commerce
scainst the cash bonus is the third
~ It's nature. At two previous an
uuaI meetings the chamber had
itken a stand against the bonus.
III" recent referendum was author
.acd six weeks ago by national Of
liccTs.
we have had this last referen-
dunn to be perfectly fair and record
any change in public sentiment IL
there had been any change" Elliot
II. Goodwin, resident vice president.
declared in announcing the result OF
the referendum.
Heavy Vote Recorded.
Goodwin pointed out that the vote
was the heaviest with but three
exceptions ever recorded. He ex-
pressed the opinion II contained ex-
preSsions from practically every
chamber in the smaller cities of the
nation. Votes were cast by business
organizations in 3T5 cities. 46 States,
in the District of Columbia. Alaska
and Hawaii and by the American
Chambers of Commerce in Cuba
and Mexico. The vote was 1.22I
against the cash bonus and 467 for,
il was reported. This is more than
a ~ per cent majority against and
constitutes a commitment of the
chamber.
The referendum. besides calling
foi a vote on the cash bonus and
certificate plan. asked an expression
by the chambers membership on
three other propositions contained
in the veterans bill pending in
Congress
Other Benefits Favored.
The ballot puts the chamber on
record for a national system for
reclamation for the benefit of for
mer service men and for vocational
education for former service men. A
two-thirds majority, necessary to
commit the chamber, was lacking on
the uestion Of governmental appro-
priations to enable former service
men to build homes.
Adequate relief for the disabled
men still remains the first step in
National Chambers program"
Goodwin declared. "a present ex-
penditure Of more than 1000. 900 4
day for disabled men is evidence of
the desire of the people that those
? veterans who suffered physical or
mental impairment shall be cared
for adequately until returned to a
life of usefulness and independence
Beyond that point the National
Chamber will continue to advocate
legislation for the beneft of the
healthy uninjured veterans which
will include opportunities for voca-
tional training and land settlement
aid. construction measures which
are best calculated to make every
former service man an independent.
selt-respecting member of his COM
munity."
Attacks Vote of Chambers.
Capt. Bettelheim. speaking for the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, bitterly
Brraigned the National Chamber last
night, charging that
"a good part of the ballots cast
were by officers of the National
Chamber and representatives Of the
big moneyed interest rather than by
the local individual chambers in the
business communities throughout
the country" and he challenges
the Chamber of Commerce Of the
United States to publish the list of
ethe Individual Chambers Of Com
merce in addition to the others who
voted against the Adjusted Com
pensation Bill"
IAN amusing item in the state
ment of the National Chamber"
BetteIheim says. lis that they have
asked the American Chamber of
Commerce OF Cuba and Mexico to
vote upon the proposition Of the