Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-14

pdHk ~ per cent OF the Sdiue Oh Ills
adjusted service credit plus the in
terest thereon at IL per cent COM
pounded annually. From three to
six years following issuance of the
certificate he could borrow So per
cent of his credit plus interest; aft
er six years 81 IL per cent plus in
terest. In case of failure to make
payments son these loans when due
the veteran would not lose his GER
tificate. The secretary of the treas
ury would be required to take them
up and veterans would have the
option of redeeming them by paying
loan and interest. this provision to
remain in effect during the 20-year
life of the certificate
). Vocational Training Aid This
provision allows the veteran to ap-
ply his adjusted service credit. COM
puted in this option at $1.75 a day.
to complete an education interrupted
by the war.
4. Farm or Home Aid. Veterans
who wish to make Improvements on
city or suburban homes. or purchase
or make payments on city homes or
farms or pay off landed indebted
purpose. adjusted service credits
by % per cent.
A Matter of Justice
If bonuses are to be given this bill
gives such relief as is available.
While men were being drafted and
sent to Europe to fight to save civil
iZation there was an era of money
making ad high prices of farm prod
ucts such as the country had never
seen. Every drafted man was cut
off from all participation in this I'M
precedented opportunity for money
making. They had no choice. They
We're selected by law for service in
the war. Some farm products
reached such a high point as to
produce Lndreamed prosperity for
the time being. Everybody was
making money WHO would work. and
these men, 100000 of them across
the water in a struggle to save civil
ization, and 100000 more ready to
go. We're cut off entirely from the
privilege OF participating in this per-
iod of money making. What was the
result? Wages were high. The
daily wage of some equaled the
monthly wage the same men receiv-
ed before the war. Wheat. cotton.
beef cattle, hogs. corn. all were
bringing wonderful prices. Every
aries were raised. A bonus of $40
annually was voted to Government
employees, a bonus they are still
enjoying. These employees suffered
no hardShipS, were exposed to no
dangers, had comfortable quarters,
and they were paid not only the
customary salary but they received
bonus of $40 for each year of
service in addition to such salary.
When actual war ended we paid the
men who were drafted, who won the
war. who broke the Hindenburg line.
the men who by their heroism turned
the tide of war; to these men we
paid the additional sum of $50.
Twenty-odd states by vote of the
people have provided additional
compensation for the eX-service men
of those states.
This question has no place in poll
tics and in no circumstances should
be used for political advantage. The
men who served in the trenches got
$!.25 per day. If the American peo-
pie believe that it was worth S2.25
Fer day to serve in the trenches and
~ per day to serve in the reserves
in America. these being the rates the
soldiers are asking as adjusted COM
pensation: then the difference be-
tween these rates and what the SOL
dlers have already received should be
paid as an act of justice.
Can We Pay Adjusted Compensa-
ton?
Congressman Andrew of Massa-
chuSetts speaking on this subject in
the House on January II, said: So
Tar as l know everybody favors tax
reduction in every locality in every
occupation. and regardless of party.
This is as true of Congress as it is
of the public at large.
The idea has been widely circu-
! lated. however. that taxes cannot be
| lltted or at any rate. to anything
like the amount proposed if the so
called soldiers bonus is to be paid.
| There had developed very highly
organized effort to persuade the pub
lie of this and to enlist their opposi-
| ton to adjusted compensation upon
this basis. 1t is to this vital phase
of the subject that l want to direct
attention.
] have no serious contention with
those who oppose adjusted compen-
satlon on the general ground that
it was the privilege of youth to
serve the country and that the veter-
ans can have no greater reward than
I the proud memory of their service
IN the war.
But even taking the estimates of
cost contained in the sccretarys
most recent letter. the tables in the
last treasury report indicate that
! taxes cal be repealed and lowered
to the full extent recommended by
him. and the government debt can
/ be reduced 10 the fun extent pro-
Nlded by law: yet, nevertheless. ev-
a of Il
| ton from the beginning to the end
can be met without further borrow
ing and without other taxation.
Here are the figures: We had a
! balance in the treasury last June of
approximately S37000O,GO and ac-
cordlng to the secretary's report we
shall probably accumulate during
the present fiscal year a surplus of
about $3.50. DOC. 900.
The treasury. according to the
best information available. should
have on hand in the fiscal year 1879
sufficient sum to cover even the
secretary's highest estimate OF adj
JuSted compensa ton cost. not only
for that year blu. also for the three
succeeding years. In word. the
treasury can have on hand in 1925
a sufficient balance to meet all COM
pensation payments up to June 80.
1928
For the following l. gears. accord
ing to the Secretarys calculations.
adjusted compensation, will cost on
the average about 5000, 600 yearly.
If the balance between revenues and
expenditures continues the same.
which is quite possible even If the tax
reduction of this year is followed by
further tax reduction in years to
come, when the remaining taxes be-
come more fruitful not only can