The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1924-03-19
Major CIemans
\ Speaks on Bonus
NATIONAL LEGION CHAPLAIN
GIVES INFORMATION ON BILL
BEFORE CONGRESS.


the National American Legion, ad-
dressed an audience Of serVce-men
and others at the armory last Tues
day evening, his subject being Ad-
justed Compensation. The address
followed a dinner in the armory dim
ing room when Major Clesars and
members Of Melvin Daskam Post were
served by the Women,s Auiliary
Captain w. B. Clement, in introducing
Major Clemans, made reference to the
many years local service men had
known and loved him and of their
pleasure in having him as their guest
in their own city.
Major Clemans is an interesting
speaker, possessing personal magnet
ism and vigor of thought and express
sion. He confined himself closely to
the subject he had chosen and gave
much interest ting information con-
cerning the Adjusted Compensation
Bill now before Congress He said in
part:
The World War was won by the
combined efforts of soldiers and sail
ors on the one hand and labor and
capital on the other hand. Many men
were legally exempt from the draft
because they were serving their
country as members of the great in
dustrial army. But while there was
equal service the rewards Of service
were not equal. There was wide dis
crepancy between the pay OF the man
in uniform and the man in the in
dustrial army. Capital and Labor re-
ceived the much larger pay and this
la nav cIHnJ cox-oral hilI1onO of
dollars to the cost of the war This
war burden IS borne by the service
man and others in the shape Of taxes
The others in the industrial army
having received a higher pay, the
service man is under financial ham
dicap. Some adjustment in pay is
necessary so that the soldier may be
on financial equality with the civil
ian. The Adjusted Compensation Bill
before Congress is intended to par
tally make the needed adjustment
Nov just what is adjusted compcn-
sation? There is much misunderstand-
ing right here. Some have an idea
that four or five hundred dollars are
to be given 10 each service man and
that he vii: sGuander it recklessly.
= Well, it is his money, is it not? When
he was needed for service no one OBJ
jected to him because he was spend
thrift or because he was uuthrifty.
But no service man gets much
cash. There are four plans IN the
bill which the American Legion is
backing. Every service man is to re-
eeive one dollar day for home ser
vice and dollar and quarter a day
for foreign service, but the maximum
is $500 for home and S625 for foreign
service. From the amount the soldier
receives, the $50 bonus he got at his
discharge is 10 be deducted. Here is
over S24O ,00C 900 now paid. Every Ser
vice man who receives $50 or less will
receive cash. He must take it, 1t will
take about $40 900 900. If ne is to re-
ceive above $50 he can take out an
insurance policy for twenty years and
he will be allowed 25 per cent extra
and 4A per cent compound interest
which at the end of twenty years will
give him over three times what his
service calls for After several years
ne can borrow on this insurance He
can use his pay to buy home or a
ldi III tIic SAME Is given
or he can use it for vocational or in
dustrial education and he will be al
lowed SITE a day for his service.
None of these plans will take much
money out Of the treasury There will
only be shifting of credits. The ac-
tuary of the Treasury in reply to a
request from Congress stated that ad-
justed compensation would cost only
SSo,000,00o a year.
The people are for the bonus. The
national elections OF 1920 and 1922
were carried on this issue The people
of 20 states have voted favorably on
' the bonus. 23 states through their
legislatures have petitioned Congress
to pass the bill. The House passed
the bill by z vote of 333 to 70 and the
Senate by AZ to % The Chambers of
Commerce through the country voted
4,116 to 1857 in favor and the bill has
been indorsed by the American Fed
Grafton of Labor When the facts are
known the people generally are in
favor of the bonus"
In closing the speaker said:
"The American Legion stands for a