Evening star., 1924-03-27
Defends Soldier Bonus.
Spengler. Post Official Takes
Issue With Opponents.
no che pdltor Of The Star


note that article in Saturdays
Sees Insult in Bonus" and, as
take the opposite view from that of
Mr.. Mulford on this question, I hope
you will give what 1 have to say just
as much publicity as his article. was
given in your paper.
/ am, as Mr.. Mulford states he is,
also an active, constructive member
of the American Legion, being affil-
lated with the Henry c. Spengler
Post, No. IL, of the local department.
II am also an ex-member of the
American expeditionary forces, and
for this reason I believe 1 am well
qualified to speak on the so-called
bonus" question.
In the first place, the bill now in
Congress is not bonus bill, but one
that is designed to adjust in a small
way and as far as the nations 5
finances will permit the pay received
by the ex-service man during his
period of service to Offset the losses
incurred by him incident to his serv-
ice in the Army and Navy. 1t must
be remembered that out of the $50
pay check of the soldier Uncle Sam
took back SIS for ailotments in many
cases and then about $3.50 more for
insurance, leaving the soldier a very
small balance. AT the same time, all
Glasses OF civil workers were getting
double wages, contractors were paid
bonuses, etc. Therefore, the eX-sery-
ice man feels that if the government
could afford to pay civil workers such
lucrative salaries it can at least re-
turn a small portion of the deduc-
tions made from his Army pay, which
ward making up for the financial
losses incident to his services. So
this bill is not bonus bill at all, but
nothing more than Congress has
termed it, adjusted compensation"
The ex-service man does not want a
bonus. even though the veterans of
our other wars received such grants
Our men did not go into the service
with the expectation of getting a
bonus upon discharge. Neither did
away part of their pay to help finance
government obligations as result Of
casualties, etc.
Mr.. Mulford raps the American Le-
for the adjusted compensation bill
and states that he is in accord with
the views of the Soldiers Anti-Bonus
League. 1t is quite natural that Mr.
Mulford will not agree with the Le-
gion Weekly propaganda, as he calls
it Nevertheless, the Legion's propa-
ganda is straight and they are to be
complimented for their fight to carry
out the wishes Of the mass OF ex-
service men. The American Legion's
fight for the disabled has resulted in
legislation benefiting those men, and
now they are putting up a valiant
fight for other ex-service men who
were wronged during the past War.
League, that organization has al
ready, been exposed by the American
Legion, repudfated by one of its own
members, and Congress, l believe,
has satisfied itself that it was organ
ized for the personal interests of a
that most of the propaganda that has
been swamping the Capitol from all
sections of the. country protesting
the passage of the adjusted compen-
sation bill can be laid at the door
of this organization
This may be an insulting measure
to Mr.. Mulford, but not to the aver
age ex-service man. On the same
page in your paper Saturday Fred
eric william Vile states that Pep
resentatlve Meyer Jaoobstein Of New
York has been conducting a refer
endum of the ex-servfce men of his
constituency on this question. Three
thousand eight hundred and ninety
OF these men were in favor of the
adjusted compensation bill and sew
enty-one were against it. Any other
congressman who wanted to try such
scheme would get the same result.
/ believe this measure is going to
become a law even over the presi- :
Dental veto. and in such event it is
suggested that Mr.. Muiford and the
small body of his oppor ents can re-
fuse to accept what is coming to
them or else turn it over TO the Sol
diers' Anti-Bonus League to reim-
burse that organization for the large
sums OF rroney they have been spend
ing to fight the passage OF the bill.
j. B. JONES,
Junior Vice Commander H c.
Spengler Post. No. IL. American
Legion,