Evening star., 1923-01-02

Il
600 for one soldier, who began his
service before he was twenty years
old. The greatest bonus that has
been asked by any American Legion
naire was one dollar a day, hence. at
that rate, the beneficiary must have
served fifty-four years, nine months
and twenty days and then persuaded
some one to task on an extra zero
for him. But. In fact. he served less
of three full years. his bonus was
$ls3.46 day.
n " X
| The following letter from one who
signs his real name explains the mat
ter:
Washington, D. c., December25. 1922.
| Dear Sir:--Your articles on Lafay-
cite are Just right. Lafayette was
amply rewarded for all his services
and so-called sacrifices before he left
America. On his visit to the United
States what did a title-loving Com
gress do? Look at the framed draft
for 100000 now on exhibition in the
north front OF the Treasury:
Grant to General Lafayette for his
Sservices during the Revolutions:
| ITO Thomas Tudor Tucker, Treasurer
of the United States, greeting:
| 'T'ay to General Lafayette or order
two hundred thousand dollars, being
the amount allowed him in considers
tion OF his services and sacrifices in
the war OF the revolution, pursuant
to an act OF Congress concerning him,
approved 2sth of December, 1924"
| Yours truly.
DOUGLAS N. STARR.
= X X
Mr.. Starr deserves the thanks of the
American Legion for calling atten-
tion to this precedent of Congress In
thus "commercializing patriotism" al
some Of the statesmen on Capitol
| Hill have characterized such an act
OF course, one George Washington
too. proved so ''mercenarys In his pa
triotism that he accepted great
tract OF land as his bonus.
/ If the Lafayette bonus were now
reclaimed by the United States, with
compound interest from 1924, IL would
probably amount to more than the
sum we loaned France In the late
crisis. on which we are receiving no
| interest nor payment of principal.
Nobody wants 1t recalled now, but In
the interest Of consistency 1t is proper
that all the world should know that
1 Lafayette, we are here" means
| something more than oratory. The
mlIIlons or world war American vet
Grams are really still here-except
| those who have "gone west"
There is no reason for any man to
| go hungry in Washington. The Cos
pei Mission. located at 214 John Mar
| shall place. has arranged to distribute
free to all citizens. tickets to be used
oy them in relieving calls for food
or lodging by men out of work. This
is not the only place where relief is
freely offered. The Volunteers OF
America have an eating and lodging
place, called THE Stepping Stone
! located at 275 Pennsylvania avenue
where no questions are asked and
food and lodging are freely given. Al
| both places systematic efforts are
made to find employment for those
! who Will work. Street begging is
1 1dIC " ana really not
| justified when such places of relief
are open. Similar relief for women
are also available through inquiry OF
| the police or at the two places re-
| ferred 20.
Washington traffic police are to be
drilled to standardize their gestures
SO that they will be inteiligible to
motorists. 1t is confusing to have
| one officer beckon like a Mexican
with palm up and four fingers wig
| giing--which south of the Rio Grande
means the equivalent of Good morn
| ing, have you washed your face?'
while in Washington 1t is supposed
to signify "Come on before turn the
| stop signal on you" And then at the
! next corner the officer holds UP hie
1 hand, and the motorist. too far away
| to count the finger-wiggles, assumes
| that ii is the same come-on challenge,
! only to be threatened with irnprison-
ment for misinterpreting an of1cer.
/ All traffic officers are to learn Del
4 sarte movements and wave graceful
/ signals that will be as clear as a
/ semaphore. Wonder why all are not
| equipped with semaphores. telling us
to stop. go and when. Those officers
who have to keep their arms waving
! all day long. are lucky that they did
4