The New York herald., 1922-03-09
MANY firms GAVE
SOLDIER BONUSES
Paid Their Salaries in Full
While Employees Were
in Service.
A BALTIMORE PROTEST.
Head of Large Business
House There Tells of
It's Donations.
OBJECTS TO NEW LEVY
.Commercializing Of Patriot
ISM Condemned in Letters
to Congress.

Special Dispatch 10 THE Ns~ YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. O., March \.
The latest proposal by TIE bonus
raiders has brought forth new food
of protests and members of Congress
We're swamped to-day by letters and
kilograms from their constituents
registering their objections to the plan
One striking objection, heretofore
ignored by advocates of the bonus,
which appealed strongly+to members
of Congress, even those In favor of
the bonus, was voiced by several OF TIE
protestants. They pointed out that
thousands OF firms throughout the
country paid their employees who
We're called to the colors their full
salaries during their service in the
army. Many thousands OF soldiers, in
addition to their pay in the army. re-
ceved their full salaries from their
employers and their jobs upon their
return.
Action OF Patriotic Firms.
When the United States entered the
war wave OF patriotism swept over
the country, 1t was pointed out in sew
eral letters. and TO encourage the Amer
lean forces many firms decidea@to take
care or their employees whitley in the
army. That policy was not cohfned TO
any city or locality. but was nation
wide. Yet in the proposed bonus bill. in
fact, in no measure yet proposed. has
any consideration been given TO that
point.
In those circumstances, II Is argued
by many business men that no adjusted
compensation is due to soldiers thus
cared for. That argument is advanced
with force and conviction by w. A.
Owens. head OF a large machinery Arm
In Baltimore
I'VE wish to state" says Mr.. Owens,
that when our Government declared
war, we went before our employees and
told them any man who enlisted or was
drafted would receive from us his full
salary just the same as IL he was work
Ing. until the time OF his discharge,
which we relgiously adhered TO and
which our employees will attest to II
questioned. III there il any bonus due
them. 1t rightfully belongs to us. We
do not want II and we do not think as a
matter OF abstract Justice II proper that
the Government should tax us 10 pay
bonus to others.
Serious Eject ON Country.
I'VE believe that the enactment OF
the bonus legislation as proposed would
have a serious effect on the economic
conditions OF the country. We wish to
place our firm and ourselves ON record
as being in favor OF discharging all the
obligations OF this countrY to the dis
abled soldiers. but weCdo not favor
commercializing patriotism"
In support of the doubts entertained
by the farm bloc in Congress over the
wisdom OF the latest bonus plan. Ben
jamin H. Miller OF Ashton. Nd, writes
that the farmers in his section are un-
alterably opposed to any bonus for the
hale and hearty ex-service men. A
resolution to that effect, he said, was
submitted recently to farmers organi-
zation in his neighborhood and was
unanimously adopted.
A large firm in New York wrote .
we urge you TO vote against this
lnsidious measure. The premises are
treacherous and in operation II would
be disastrous. Spend short time re-
viewing the 1921 income tax returns RI
you want practicable demonstration
OF our inability 10 shoulder this extra
burden now or three ypara hence"