The Omaha morning bee., 1924-03-17
Vets Bonus
Cost Set at
Two Billion
Amount Can Be Met by Saw
ings in Government Ex-
penses, Majority Com
mittee Report States.
Passage Is Predicted

Washington, March 16.-The report
of the house ways and means commit
tee on the new soldier bonus bill,
which will be presented to the house
tomorrow and voted on Tuesday, was
made public today by Chairman
Green, estimating the maximum cost
Of the measure at s2.119,oo0,0o0.
spread over 20 years. The cost. the
report said, could be met by aptici-
pated savings in current expenses Of
the government.
A minority report signed by four
republican members of tho committee
Representatives Treadway. Massa-
chusetts; Tilson, Connecticut; Watson.
Pennsylvania, and Mills, New York
attacks the giving of a bonus as an
''unround principle" and declared its
cost would limit tax reduction in fu-
ture years.
The bill provides for paid up 20-year
endowment life insurance policies and
cash payments to veterans not en-
titled to more than $50 In adjusted
service compensation.
Proponents of the measure predict
its passage Tuesday, although two
thirds majority will be necessary. the
bill coming up under suspension OF
the rules which limits debate and pro-
hibits amendments.
Cash Preferred.
Members Of the democrat veterans
group were disturbed today because
they had been denied opportunity Of
offering an amendment providing for
full cash payments as an option OF
the measure, but leaders indicated
most Of them would VOTE for the bill
and depend on senate action for the
cash option.
Twenty-one of the 30 democratic
members from New York signed a
statement today declaring they ia
vored passage of soldier bonus legis-
1ation, but preferred immediate all
cash payments.
Chairman Green said two bonus
bills had passed the house and one
of them both the senate and house.
The latter, he said. was vetoed by
President Harding. but the present
measure was framed 80 that 1t will
become law" 1t would confer sub
stantial benefits on tho soldiers, he
said. It's cost would be capable Of
accurate and definite determination
and the necessary appropriations
could be made without embarrassing
the treasury.
The average of the insurance poll
cies, 1t was estimated. would be 1852.
The policies would be valued on the
basis Of the adjusted service compen-
sation provided in the vetoed bill, 81
for each day of home service and $1.25
for each day overseas. The first so
days would not be counted.
Average Set at 1882.
veterant who served more than
10 days and who would not be en-
titled to cash would receive q paidup
20-year endowment policy for the
amount of insurance their adjusted
service credit, plus 25 per cent, would
purchase at their age.
II the veteran dies before the 20
years are up, the full amount of the
policy would be paid the benef1claries
of his estate. At maturity the face
value Of the policy would be payable
in full. The policies would be dated
from next January ].
The majority report estimated the
average adjusted compensation due
veterans would be 1882 each. The
maximum number of days which
could be counted are $50. Service
any time between April 8, 1917. and
July /, 1919. would be counted If en-
listment was made prior to November
IL, 1918. Adjusted service credit of
s496.62 would be worth policy val
ued at $1,000.
3.O38,283 Eligible.
Chairman Green estimated that on
TO insurance policies and 3S9.5S3 vet
veterans living who would be entitled
to insurance policies and 3s4.5s3 vet
Grams who served from 81 to 110 days,
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