Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1924-05-02
BONUS PASSES
BY 67-l7 VOTE
Insurance Bill Gives Veterans
Paid-Up Policies
CASH OPTION REJECTED
Paving Way For Money Compensation,
They Get Date Of Issuance
Deferred-ooes To
Conferences.
CASH OPTION REJECTED

Washington.-The Senate pass
ed the soldier bonus bill providing
for a paid-up insurance policy for
each veteran by the vote Of 81
to II.
The vote was reached at the end
Of day of animated debate in which
Senator Underwood took most con-
spicuous part in opposition to any
bonus for ex-service men.
Considerable impatience was mani
fest by the friends of the measure
over the dllatory tactics resorted to
by some Of the Senators to delay pas
sage Long before the final roll call
there we're calls for Vote. Vote, +
from the floor. while the galleries
Joined in subdued tones.
When the vote was announced
there was a great sigh of relief
throughout the,chamber, as the fight
for adjusted compensation had been
a long and bitter one. in which all
sorts. OF influences we're brought to
bear.
Oficials of the American Legion, I
who watched the battle from the gal
leries, we're much pleased with the
outcome. Senator Copeland Of New
York made a frantic sffort to have
his cash bonus plan adopted. After
much effort he succeeded in getting
a roll call and his proposal was re-
jected, Al to 3s.
Republican leaders advised Demo-
cratic Senators that President Cool
idge is less likely to veto the bill
than any other proposal which might
be devised.
On the fnal roIl-call the opposition
dwindled to a comparatively small
number. Several Senators who have
been bitter opponents of bonus
threw their support back of the in
surance plan in the belief that 1t will
not place an unreasonable burden
upon the taxpayers and will not have
q deleterious effect upon industry.
Democratic leaders boldly declared
they will offer a substitute measure
"when they get into power" They
freely predicted thss va, ,s,ssss n@ e ~ the
o. s'sss; es... s'..ss ..ssss when the "ex-serFice
men will get their full measure of
Justice"
To pave the way for the Demo-
cratic substitute. Senator Walsh OF
Massachusetts, offered an amendment,
which was approved by viva voce
vote, providing that the insurance
certificate shall be dated July /. 1925.
instead OF January, as provided in
the original bill.
Walsh later explained that the
main purpose OF his amendment is
to advance the time for the issuance
of the certificates. so that nothing will
be done in the way of putting into
operation the unfair and inequit-
able" plan Of the Republicans before
the Democrats can provide the kind
of compensation the ex-service men
desire-that is, settlement in cash
to large extent.
Another amendment offered by
Walsh. which also was accepted. pro-
vides that those veterans who are
entitled to $50 or less shall be paid
sahen the records are made up and
st the expiration of nine months,
in the House bill.
.he voted against the bill,
eworth of New York sue
aving an amendment
b the Philippine scouts
Rican infantry regi-
shin the scope of the
18th Of South Carolina
al that the holders Of
900 tax-exempt bonds
serest for four years,
provide $500 .O0o. 600,
enough to pay the ad-
dipensation. He said that
9nly fair that the men who
d by the var and whose bonds
made safe and secure by the
sfAvery of the young soldiers should
make that sacrifice. No serious at {
tention was given by the Senate to
the proposition.
After Senator Smoot OF Utah I
pointed out that II would cost $780, !
100000 the Senate rejected a pro-
posal by Senator Trammel OF Florida
10 allow every ex-service man cash
payment of $50 when the bill becomes
effective, to be charged against the
insurance certificate. u
Senator Underwood supported that
proposal as did Senator King Of Utah.
Senator King made repeated efforts
to have the bill recommitted to the T
Senate Finance Committee on one I
pretense or other One of his mo- il
tions was based on the assertion that v
the pending measure made no effort C
to adjust the compensation of the 8
soldiers. He argued there should be s
a report on each soldier as to the t
amount Of money he lost by going p
TO war so his pay could be properly b
adjusted. r