New Britain herald., 1924-01-22

tho nation has been engaged. except the Great War in Europe have re-
 Ceiyed only s6,600, 100000 by way of pension and allowances. The soldiers
 of the last war have already received 1 in compensation, outside of their 1 statutory pay. in the ncighborhood of , SS,o00, ,000.000 in five years time. "Of course. great deal Of this expenditure has gone for the care and
 maintenance ot the wounded and dis
 abiod soldiers. who arc properly en-
 titled to the first consideration of he
 government: and every one agrees that the man who suffered personal , injuries ny reason of his patriotic service to the country should be well
 and properly taken care of. But the ! man who came home in good health
 and without injury or loss, exc pt ;he
 loss of time, if it can be counted as
 q loss Of time 10 serve ones country.
 stands on q V"ry different basis rom
 the wounded and disa bed. This bill
 is said to equalizo ,hc pay of these
 on. which cannot be done. If pay
 is 10 be measured in dollars and cents. the skilled mechanic often receives ten times as much money in his pay envelope as the lsborer in the field. and vet each offered for the. country's sake his ali--tife itself To say these mons compensation is adjusted by giving to each dollar day for the length of time they served. borders closr b the Grotesque.
 Must tsc Paid.
 'lt is stated by those who have carefully examined tho proposal for au adjusted compensation that the ultimate cost to the nation will be be- tween S4.000, ,O00, ,000 and s5.000. 0OO.- obO.0u0 If We make this debt. | must b" paid in cash sooner or later. whether we borrow il from ihe sol dier by postponing the time when he is 10 receive his share, or borrow t from the citizen in order that the SOL dier may be Immediately paid. The interest rate and the amortizat ton charge must be paid by the collection Of taXe., from ,he American people.
 We must not forget that the great iEd"otodness of the nation coming from th" recent war not only rests as q burden on this generation hut on inc generation 10 come. and, in the crd. th" soldier himself will bcar the larger portion of ihe taxes to pay the debt, as his span of life runs longer than that Of tho moro mature men who were no' actually involved on the battlefront. |
 Son" Of those charged with gov ornmentDl responsibility are publicly proCaiming that We can reduce tax 1 ation aal at the same tlmr increase the indebtedness of tho country under | q bonus Dili to the extent nt s4.000,- ] 00U, ,000 or sa,p00. 000. .0OO. To under i stand such proposal requires de- 1 gre" ot mental gymnastics Of which ] l am mol capable. and ! do not believe l that the American people take such a proposal seriously The issue IS per foc;lF plain 10 my mind. IT We do not pass thr bonus bin and are cconomi- | eel in our expenditures, wn can re. ducr t9%d'ion to tho extent of $500. hno,o or nor. lf We pass the bonus jill, we must expect ;ltat inc burdens of today if not the greater burdens ot tomorrow. will remain with us .oY hc next nalf century
 "Lrt us benr in mind that inc inan- tiad condition of our soldiers who ,sm" homo after the Civil War was .ar more difficult and harassing than those that confront the men ltho took part in the great war. Then. most of them had sccn tour years of lrtitr s,rNicr. Nh,n tho war or : he iittirs ended, part Of he country was i#sy'at" and hprtjy thereafter bust ] ~- was prnstrat"l There was much Stress in inc land and amall uppor- HajE for employment. The veterans ,r that great conflict dh not ask TOT bonus or for adjusted compensation lad lil moi rereiy" it. am sure hal in jhn cnd fl would be better for hr young ptcran Of today 70 leave n open account on the credit side of he national ledger. tha' may come in gond st"ad for sickness and old az" Il the fnturr. rather than to close thr account by an adjusted compensation iL IH my Judgment. thc only coursa o pursue that will benefit al inc pco- ilp Of tbc United States and hid in zsurng continuing prosperity in he country is 10 dofoat tho bonus bill 1d rriucr taxation tp ihr fu,los' pos. jbJo ox,nt under existing condi- ions"