New Britain herald., 1923-09-14

the bill ana nikeh an AAtefNfa"fN =
mort such was made and the report
m the judiciary committee accepted
ANY ather disposition, 10 my mind,
would he quite contrary 20 cur most
cherished American principles ana
doctrines. The flag Of the United
states is the sign made visible OF inc
strong spirit that has brought liberty
and prosperity 10 the people or Apnear
ca. II is the flag OF all Of ne ailke'
a belongs TO all races, ealoFs and tom
cues, and Is not the exclusive properly
OF ex.soldiars and veterans, but 10
them and 20 us has only been gwen
the honor and the privilege of lighting
COR il and il need be-dylng for H.
This custom and practice OF deeoratF
IN. graves with Old Glory should he
commended, IL is typical OF our love
md respect and may our eitizenry al
WAYS regard and cherish II, and think
of il In the terms OF the iioosier poet
Fer thy name just 10 hear II, re-
peat II. and cheer II, is tang TO the
shirt. AZ salt as tear, And seeing
You fy. and the boys marching by,
There's shout In the thralt and
tear In the eye. and an aching 10
serve you always--or die. II dying will
keep you waving on high"
still oppose Bonus
"The next topic OF legislation about
which I desire 10 comment is that
much discussed question - tho state
bonus There was introduced In the
general assembly by tho Veterans OF
Foreign Wars state bonus bill, which
In substance provided for cash bonus
OF $40 per month for every month OF
service from April. 1917, TO Novcm-
Der II, 1919. The hearing before the
military affairs committee was held In
the hall OF the house. and was largely
attended. The proponents of the bill,
no doubt earnest and sincere In their
purpose. were present In largo num-
bers AS department commander, ].
also, was present. In spite OF the
criticism; In spite OF the threats; In
spite of the hes and accusations heap
ed upon me, by over enthusiastic adj
vocates of the bill. and in spite of the
Misrepresentation of the Legion's po-
sition, / have not seen fit to alter the
views expressed at that hearing. Be-
: Ing mindful of beneficial soldier legis-
lation enacted In the past sessions of
the general assembly, and guided by
resolutions adopted at state conven-
tions. and the policy oftentimes an
nounced by the department, through
state executive committees and legis-
lative committees, I stand before you
today of the same mind, and of the
same belief as did last March-op-
posed to the state bonus and with my
heart and soul behind the state fund.
it would be presumptious to go into
detail explaining the history of the
so-called state fund, and the Legion's
connection with it. For the past four
years we have administered the fund.
The sick and disabled the needy and
deserving soldiers and their DEEPEN
dents have been taken care of in
manner that has reflected credit to
cur organization.
1T is true that the American Le-
gion has strongly commended for a So
called bonus, but bear in mind its
advocacy has been of the federal bill
only, which is rightfully called 'Ad-
justed compensation. If the obiga-
ton exists to pay and reimburse
those who served in the great war,
that obligation rests upon the federal
government in whose service they
were. Why should state govern
ment be called upon to adjust COM
pensation when in the premises it did
not regulate the scale of wage? Such
a measure when enacted by a state
is mere gratuity, pecuniary rec
ognition of the gratitude of the state |
and Is rightfully termed a bonus. In
Connecticut however, that gratitude |
has been shown by providing a fund
of two and one-half million dollars |
the income of which is disbursed |
among our needy and their depend
ents, which, by the way, is the only |
constitutional method under our law
for the state to appropriate its funds |
There Is an old saying You can't |
have your cake and eat it, and you |
can't have the state bonus
and the state fund. The |
proposition resolves itself into this |
question, knowing that the passage of |
state bonus bill by constitutional
amendment and referendum would |
mean the forfeiture of the state fund |
by repeating the act establishing 1t |
and realizing the vast amount of good |
that is being weekly disbursed toward
needy comrades and their dependents, |
do we able-bodied veterans want to
place ourselves on a level with those |
who should be the first in the minds
and hearts of us all; and do we as
members of the American Legion
want the public to believe that we are
entitled to the same consideration
given those who are still suffering
from the hardships of the war? |, |
for one, do not, and / do not believe L
that it is the sentiment of our state Il
organization.
THE contention was made at Hart
ford by the proponents of the state
bonus bill that the state fund had
proved inadequate because of the /
large demand and small amount of
income to meet it. | know of no
better argument to advance in favor
of the continuance of the state fund
II the demand is SO great, then if the
state OF Connecticut has any surplus
money 1t desires to give to her SOL
diers let the principal of the fund be
Increased SO that the income there
from may be sufficient to provide for
those who need it,
One of my greatest worries during
the year has been the failure to sur Il
pass the previous years membership
the cause is hard to locate. some II
say hard times-others bonus-others 4