Evening star., 1922-09-03
BY G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.
" HE soldiers adjusted eompen-
sation bill, better known as
the bonus bill, hangs in the
L balance. 1t has passed both
houses of Congress, but must receive
the Presidents approval. A presi-
measure.
Charges have been made during the
long debate in Congress over the
bonus bill that the country has been
niggardly in it's treatment of the men
who volunteered or were drafted into
the military service during the war.
1t has been said that the other ma
tions involved in the war have been
more generous to their men than the
United States. And while 1t can
scarcely be said with entire justice
that this country has been niggardly.
or has not been niggardly. according
other nations. nevertheless it is Of
interest to observe what the other
nations have done in the way OF
monetary relief and other benefits for
former service men.
Not unnaturally the American Le-
gion, which is now strongly urging
the enactment into law of the soldiers
bonus bill, has taken an interest In
the treatment accorded former service
men by the foreign governments
which fought side by side with the
United States against the central
powers. The laws of those countries
40
made of the benefits granted to the
service men.
Foreign Money Grants.
Great Britain, 1t is estimated, has
granted benefits which cost that coun-
try approximately $s00.000,000 at the
present rate of exchange. Up to the
end of 1921 the total war bonuses
paid by France amounted to 542,700,-
900 francs, or $10o.s73,sQ6. OF course.
this sum has been swelled during the
last eight months. In the case Of
Italy it has been estimated that the
disbursements amount to S235.s4S,056.
Investigating in greater detail, it
Il found that all the temporary offi-
GERS in the service of Great Britain
received on rehabilitation a substan-
tial gratuity, calculated at the rate
of four months pay for the first year
of service and two months pay for
each subsequent year or part of a
year. A special war gratuity. vary
ing from $40 to $50. according to
rank and length OF service. was paid
to some 4,5o0,000, and approximately
100000 men were granted four
weeks furIough on full pay and al
lowances from date of dsmobiliza-
ton to enable them to fnd employ
ment The men were given also plain
clothes or an allowance in place of
the clothes. furthermore, the British
Tommy was provided with an out-of-
work donation. policy, which entitled
him to a donation during thirty-nine
weeks il he were out of employment
during the first year after discharge.
The Canadian soldier and tho COR
ditions he had to face after demobili-
zation has often been compared to
those faced by the American. The
actual cash bonus paid by Canada to
her soldiers amounted to $4,000, 900,
the bonus payments being made on
the following basis:
Overseas service, more than one
and less than two years, $3.50 to sin
gle men and $500 to married men;
moro than two years and less than
three, $3.50 to single and $500 to mar
ried men; three years and over. $420
to single and $500 to married men.
1t might be suggested in this con-
81 cfot ~
period was nineteen months and hve
days, while the war period for Cam
ada and Great Britain was four years,
three months and seven days.
CANADIAN Lnnd Loans.
The men who saw service at home
in Canada received a less cash bonus
than those who went overseas. the
home service bonus being as follows:
For less than one years service no
bonus was paid to men who did not
leave Canada; for more than one and
less than two years, $40 to single and
500 to married men; for two years
and less than three. $40 to single
and 5000 to married men; three years
and over, $120 to single and $500 to
married men.
The Canadian parliament in 1917
put through soldier settlement act
to aid returned soldiers In settling
upon the land. Under this act for
mer soldier was granted $50 acres Of
land and a maximum loan Of $500 to
assist him In equipping and operating
his farm. Various provisions Of the
Hot he
vide for liberal loans to former SOL
diers for the purchase Of lands. $500
for the purchase of livestock, $4,000
for the erection Of buildings and
1000 for the removal Of encum-
brances on farm land already owned
by former service men. Tho loans