Evening star., 1924-03-22
Sees ''Insult'' in Bonus.
World Wsr Veteran Opposes "Ad-
justed Compensation" Measure.
70 the Editor of The Star.

70 the Editor of The Star.
May 1, as a former member Of the
District of Columbia unit in the
Rainbow (42d) Division of the Amer
lean eapeditionary forces and as a
constructively active member in the
George Washington Post, No. l, Of
the District of Columbia Department
of the American Legion. be afforded
sufficient space in which to express
briefly 4 few Of my present thoughts
apropos OF the proposed soldiers
bonus?
In the American Legion Weekly's
issue of February i, 1924, there ap-
peared an article, running over sew
eraI pages, captioned National Ex
ecutive Committee Directs Drive to
Obtain Compensation Objective" In
fact, this publication has been lit
orally overfowing with ro-bonus
articles during particularly the past
read in the press that on the 18th
instant the proposed soldiers bonus
bin was favorably reported by the
House ways and means committee, |
suppose that the national officers of
the American Legion are now con-
ducting grand pow-wows by way of
rejoicing over their first victory dur
ing the current session of Congress
! on this matter of national Importance.
am pleased to note that Con-
gressmen Mills of Sewfork, Tread
way of Massachusetts. ana Tiison of
Connecticut, all republicans. voted
against this, to the vast majority of
the World War Veterans, insulting
measure. y,
Chairman Green estimates that this
bonus bill will cost s2,11s, 100000.
1t is not difficult for me to recall
having received $50 discharge bonus
and / recall rather easily the taxes
and higher cost OF living incident
thereto. Therefore. realizing that
what comes, ,out of our Treasury must
ment, are to become bankruptJ, /
| am rather curious to learn of just
W hat benefit the proposed adjust ed
| mpensation" Will amount to? VIII
we. the veterans and the other tax
/ payersr@ not have to repay the cost
OF the spidierx' bonus. and will it
not cost the Individual veteran many
| times more than what he Individually
will receive by way of adjusted conf
! pensation"? Il. for one, have paid
| bonus many. many more than the
paltry $50 I received from our De-
partment Of the Treasury.
Furth ermore, is not this proposed
sololerS DonuS d Efdnustdilo poIitlCdl
! move on the part Of certain mis-
!, guided members of Congress timed
| to come up for their consideration
! Just before elections? And are not
| the national officers Of the American
Legion betraying their members by
publicly demanding. the proposed
/ bonus7s !, r sincerely believe that an
Affirmative answer would be correct
/ to both, Of my Inquiries.
| By<WAy of concluding, / desire to
1 duAtA; q few lines from a pamphlet
i issued BY the Ex Service Mems Anti
thorough accord therewith and be-
lieve that the Ideas contained therein
I are more representative OF the
! AMERICAN World War Veterans than
| are The public utternnces OF the ma
tionaf ,qe xscutive committee of the
to the granting OF any form of a
bonus to able bodied ex-service men
| on the grounds. that to serve ones
| country in time Of war is a privilege
! as welt as q duty and that to seek
1 a nater reward therefor is an act
triotism and a violation of the
| Fundamental principles of American
citizenship: pledges itself to support
! the cause Of the disabled and injured
veteran with the same vigor and de-
| termination with which it opposes a
bonus for the, able. bpdied."
congressional measure can ever be
passed over a presidential veto. In
| the meantime had not the American
| Legion better render assistance to
| the veterans who. as, the result. Of
| ically in need Of aid. and bury. In
quicklime their adjusted compensa-
ton" propa ganda? Respectfully,
] BENTLEY ,MULFORD. .