, 1924-04-30

reported by the committee on fl
nance, and. as nearly, as possible, as
it passed. the house.
During the last congress-, when
the bill provided for adjusted COM
~pensation for veterans of the World
war vas under consideration, l did
not support the measure because, in
my judgment. it was imperfect and
inapplicable and would prove unsat-
isfactory to both the proposed ben-
eficiaries and the government.
No way was provided in thai bill
for raising evenue for fulfilling its
conditions. Or for assurance to the
veterans that they might obtain
loans upon. their certificates, and it
seemed certain to cad to endless
confusion in administration
If another bill of like character
should be offered. l doubtless would
oppose it.
The present bill, as it was passed
by the house and amended by the
senate committee on finance, is
one that I shall take pleasure in
supporting if it may be passed by
the senate in its present form, be-
cause it provides direct life insur-
ance protection to the families and
dependents. OF the ex-service men. 1t
introduces a system of what might
be called Safety deposit Install
ments." and provides that the vet
eran who lives for the period of 20
ears may receive in cash at the
expiration of hat period, 3.015
times the amount calculated at 81
a day to those who served in this
country and $1.25 a day to those
who served overseas, not to exceed
$500 in the former and 1928 in
the latter case. y These per diem and
maximum amounts have beer the
basis of computation suggested in
almost all of the 200 or more pro-
posed compensation bills.
The bill now under consideration,
the adjusted compensation or bonus
bill, seems to promise adjustment of
long-continued matching of wits to
evolve a plan acceptable to a ma
pority of our American Legionnaires
and to congress and the people.
We can never reward fully with
cash alone those veterans who risk
ed everything u suffered loss of
time, funds. health, and even life
itself to carry to victory our flag
and honor in the war on foreign
shores for humanity and world
peace; but we can undertake to en-
courage u young veterans to COM
mence planning II building for the
future, and we can insure to all of
them care for their dependents in
case of death.
h the bill before us proposes
to do. 1t enables each of these
young men to venture into business.
home-makinG or employment with a
certainty behind them that wife,
children or parents will not be en-
tirely bereft OF immediate relief, in
some measure. in case of the pass
ing away CT the protector.
l wish at this time to express
pleasure and satisfaction at what
seems to promise the final conclu-
sion of a subject tina has been with
us for consideration during the last
five years and one which think in
its various stages has finally reached
the best possible solution, every
n and alF things considered.
The veterans were not the ones
who first sought a bonus. 1t was
the congress which first moved in
granting the 6O-day or $50 bonus
as a necessity for Immediate use in
a cleanup and Homecoming.
Congress itself having initiated
the bonus business some six years
ago. should no longer delay when a
nearly or quite faultless measure
as this one seems to be, is before it.
suitably planned to discharge or full
fill its promises.
Whatever dissatisfaction may have
existed meantime among a part or
perhaps a majority of the veterans
Will be dispelled, and thoughts of
injustice upon their part and upon
the part of the people will pass
away, in my belief.
According to the report of Mr..
Green. chairman of the ways and
means committee of the house. more
han 200 bills bearing on this ques-
ton have been offered in this ses-
sion of congress.
1 regard this bill-H.R. 7959-as
the best for the United States at
large and the most useful for the
eN-service mon, among all that have
been proposed. It's provisions re-
quire about N hundred and sixty
five millions in cash the first year
and a little more than a hundred
million dollars per annum thereaft-
er for 20 years. This does not COM
pei us to involve the government