The Washington times., 1924-02-20
R|SKED ALL
FOR 81
DAILY
Huge. War Wages and Profits
Paid at Home While Veter-
ans Fought, He Recalls.
By w. II. ATKINS.
Cosmopolitan News Service.

James Couzens, Of Detroit,
richest man in the United States
Senate, today asserted that the
Government must pay a bonus to
former service men as "an act
Of Justice
Senator Couzens, in an exclu-
sive statement to the Cosmopoli-
tan News Service, said the time
has arrived for Congress to act,
and act promptly to compensate
the war veterans for their war
sacrifices.
Recalls Trade Bonus.
Senator Couzens said the Govern
ment during the war regarded 1t
~ equitable to give bonus to
manufacturers of war materials and
that American citizens can recog-
nize it only as simple justice" now
to reward the war veterans with
substantial compensation. The SEN
ator said:
''Opponents of the bonus argue
that many veterans suffered no
losses. They argue that those who
did suffer loss are now willing to
do without bonus.
"'But the attitude of the war vet
eran who does not want a bonus,
or does not need it, should not
prejudice the needs of other vet
Grams differently situated. Some
Of the veterans have been organic
ed into anti-bonus organizations,
but do these veterans speak for the
entire body of former service men?
War Wages Cited.
American boys who volunteered
Or were drafted into the service at
the outbreak Of the war made no
demands regarding their compen-
sation. They could make no de-
mands. But all must concede that
the pay they received was far from
commensurate.
Certainly the pay did not meas
Ure up to the standard of wages
paid in civil employment. When
we entered the war Congress real
tied the pay of former service men
was inadequate, when living costs
were considered. Congress there
fore raised the pay from about so
cents day to 81 day.
"Why should Congress have
neglected to raise the pay to $3.50
or So day? If Congress had done
30, could there have been any Sc
rious objection from the country?
Obviously there would have been
no dissent from the people.
when the need for men to fight
the country's battle was urgent
there was no objection to boosting
the service mans pay.
proper objection cannot be regis
tered now for adjusted compensa-
ton for these willing defenders Of
the nation.
Everyone will concede that even
the higher compensation fixed by
Congress was too small, that it
was inadequate and unjust to the
men who offered themselves as the
country's protectors.
Enormous Contract Profits.
Enormous sums were paid in
bonuses to war contractors. No
propaganda was started to stop
these payments. They were &C.
cepted as a matter of course in
prosecuting the war.
when the war materiel manu-
facturers, and the railroads which
transported these supplies to sea-
i, board, presented claims for losses or
for unrealized profits because Of the
sudden termination Of the war, the
Government made full settlements,
and, in many instances, the con.
tractors were overpaid.
I'VE heard no hue and cry over
these payments to contractors who
profited by the war.
'Why should we now hear agita-
ton to prevent just compensation
to former service men, whose sacri-
fices were greater than those who
stayed at home while the fighting
was going on?
"a bonus for the men is just and
must be paid"