The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-06-07
READY I D
OFF Err
BILL
Cost VIII Be 81 200, 900, 900.
Legal Rights Of Vets to
Be Stressed.
BY WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON,
international News Service.


Predicting enactment of a
11,2O0,O0O, 600 adjusted compen-
sation bill by the next Congress,
Senator Holm o. Bursorn IRE
publican) Of New Mexico, chair
man Of the Senate Pension Com
mittee, today announced that the
bonus fight in behalf of Americas
100000 world war veterans
would be waged from q new
angle-that Of legality.
Enough to Override Vote.
The Government, Senator Bur-
sum said, had contracted legal
Oblieation'' by, forcing Its soldiers
20 pay their own insurance, and In
requiring forced allotments during
the war. He cited State compensa-
ton acts, affecting peace.time EN-.
ployment, to emphasize the GOV.
ernment's obligation.
Furthermore, Bursum declared,
the bonus bill when passed win be
signed by President Harding. II
not, he said, there are enough
votes to pass 1t over his veto.
Bursum announced he would IN.
troduce the bonus bill as soon as
Congress reconyened and was pre-
actment. The new Bursum bin, he
said, will be modelled after the one
introduced in the last Congress
with certain changes.
The bill will pay q minimum of
$50 a. month to the veterans,
through the following principal
provisions:
/. Refunding Of all insurance
payments, averaging 81 . month
per man;
2. Repayment Of all enforced al
lotments, ranging from IS to SIS
8. Payment 81 ''retroactive'' wage
increase OF $40 a month for service
during the war equal to the In
crease given civilian employees dur
ing the WARY.
Certain Bin VIII Pass.
ssThe bonuse bill is going to be-
come q law during the next Con-
gress," was Bursun's fiat preCic-
ton. II am Of the opinion that
the President Will sign the bill when
passed II not, there ais nor doubt
but what there will be more than
two-thirds vote in the Senate for
the bill, thus insuring its passage
by Congress over Presidential
veto.'
6urSum declared his new Dill
would contain no gratuity.''
1T will simply provide for the
refunding to the ex-service man Of
monies which were wrongfully with.
held from his pay" Bursum added.
First, the 81 a month insurance
he paid should have been paid by
the Government and not deducted
from the soldiers wages. It IL
manifestly wrong to exact from the
man. who hazards his life In de-
Tense Of his country, the expense OF
carrying an insurance to cover that
hazard and to deduct 1t from his
wage.
I'm hazardous employment Of all
kinds throughout the whole nation,
the cost Of the hazard is laid upon
the industry. It is so required by
law in nearly every State Of the
occupation is there than war? The
Government should be no exception.
II has a legal obligation to refund
the insurance payments"
Bursum declared the Government
also should refund the enforced
ailotments'' He termed this
practice a great liberality with
other peoples money" and charged
q was debt Of the Government.
MY bill will also provide for
payment to the veteran of $40 a
month for time spent in the serv-
ice," Bursum continued. During
: the war Congress raised the wages
Of all civilian employees, earning
less than $500 a year. The in.
crease was $50 month. My bill
will extend this increase to the
military and naval employees and
make it retroactive to cover the
period Of the war.
THE total cost will be $1,000 ,000,-
900. We owe this money and we
ought to have paid IL long ago. The
obligation to make a settlement is
a. sacred as the outstanding writ
ten bonds Of the Government. The
conscience Of the American people
demands an equitable adjustment by
the next Congress"
The Bursum bill will have no
form OF revenue attached though
the Senator suggested a Govern
ment loan to cover the payments.