San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-04-23
BITTER FIGHT
| IN VIEW OVER
sOLD|ERBONUs
Principal Controversy Cen
tiers Over Cash Amend
ment.
UP FOR TWO MONTHS
Opposition to Any Bonus
Makes Itself
Evident.
UP FOR TWO MONTHS
Washington. d. c.. April 2s.-Co,

Washington. ID. c.. April 23.-Con-
vening two. hours earlier than usual,
the Senate pressed toward vote to-
day on the soldier bonus bill with each
speaker limited to fifteen minutes.
The principal controversy centered
on the amendment for inclusion in the
bill of cash option provision offered
by Senator Copeland (Democrat), New
York.
Although drafted by Democratic
members of the finance committee the
amendment was not submitted by
them. leaders said. because they feared
its adoption would prevent enactment
of bonus bill. Republican leaders
say they will vote to sustain presi-
dental veto if the bill carries the
cash option proposal but will vote to
override veto if the. insurance plan
is disapproved by the executive.
The pending bill reported to the
Senate by the finance committee is
substantially the same as passed by
the House and would allow cash pay
ments to veterans not entitled to more
than $50 in adjusted service compen-
sation and 20-year endowment insur-
The Copeland amendment calls for
a cash payment in full to veterans
preferring it to the insurance. Such a
proposal would require a larger imme-
diate outlay by the government than
the straight insurance proposition. and
the amendment proposes issuance OF
81 SOC, 100000 bonds under the Second
Liberty Loan act to take care of the
payments.
Some Oppose Any Bonus.
Opposition to any bonus measure
made itself evident in the debate yes
terday for the first time, Senator
Borah tRepublican), Idaho, leading
the attack with warning that at is
time. to take stock and turn the cor
ner."
The bill has been on its extensive
journey for nearly two months. A.
though bonus measures were intro
duced Immediately upon the converting
of Congress, the question was not ac-
tually taken up by the House ways
and means committee until March 1,
the day after the tax reduction mea-
sure was passed by the House.
The pending bill makes provision
for all enlisted men and women and
officers up to and including the rank
of captain in the army and marine
corps and lieutenant in the navy. No
civilian officers or employees of any
branch of the military service, how
ever, would be included in its benefits,
nor would contract surgeons, cadets
of the United States Military Acad-
envy, midshipmen, cadets or cadet en-
gineers of the coast guard, members
of the reserve officers training corps,
members of the; students army train.
ing corps Except an enlisted man de-
tailed thereto) or members of the in.
sular force of the navy. Numerous
other minor exceptions are made.
Details Of Plan.
Adjusted service credit under its
terms are based on 81 a day for home
service and $1.25 day for overseas
service, with maximums of $500 and
1928, respectively. The first 60 days
of service are excluded from the COM
putation.
The paid up 20-year endowment
policies would be valued on the
amount of adjusted service due EACH
veteran. To this amount. in computing
the policy's value, would be added one
fourth. and the policy would be tho
equivalent of what such a sum would
purchase in regular insurance at reg
ular premium considering the rate of
at 4 per cent compounded an
nually.
Loan would be allowed on the poll
cies after two years from the date of
issuance up to 30 per cent of the
1,to af hA
on $1,000 policy. at the end of two
years loan 70 SS7.93 could be OBJ
tanned; in five years, $153.52, and
in fifteen years S5S9.19.
In computing the adjusted service
pay, service between April 5, 1917,
and July 1. 1919. could be counted.
Enlistment must have been dated,
however. before November II. 1918.
Overseas service means service on
shore in Europe or Asia. exclusive of
China. Japan and the Philippine
islands; and service afloat not on
receiving ships. Included in either
case is the period from the date Of
embarkation for ship service to the
date of Decentralization or return, both
dates inclusive.
Cost Estimates Vary.
The cash payments allowed would
be available upon application nine
months after the date of enactment.
The measure also provides that il
a veteran has died before making ap-
plication for adjusted service pay and
if the government has not paid his de-
pendents insurance under the war risk
act, the amount of his adjusted serv.
ice pay would be paid to the depend
ents in ten quarterly installments.
TO meet the cost of the bill, it pro
yides that an annual appropriation
should be made which. for the calen.
dar year 1925, shall not exceed $780,,
100000.
Cost of the insurance provision
the principal feature of the bill. has
been estimated from $4,000, 467, 42t
given by Howard p. Brown. Veteran,
Bureau actuary, to .S3,631 DAT ,691
figured by Joseph Mccoy, Treasury
actuary. Senator Curtis (Republican)
Kansas. sponsor of the bill. estimated
the cost at approximately $500,