Evening star., 1924-03-03
new BONUS PLAN
W0ULDA|D j0BLESS
Jacobstein's Bill Is Designed
to Protect Permanently
Ex.ServiCe Men.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
Insurance against unemployment,
sickness and old age, as substitute
for a cash bonus. is the novel fea-
ture of an adjusted compensation bill
to be considered this week by the
House committee on ways and means.
1t originates with Representative
Meyer Jacobstein of the Rochester,
y. y, constituency. His plan con-
templates setting aside $100.000,0o0
Il year for benefits to former service
men for the purpose above indicated.
Mr.. Jacobstein, who is professor
of economics by occupation, asserts
that his scheme meets virtually all
the objections raised by opponents of
the bonus. He contends that under
il taxes can be reduced, as provided
by the Mellon plan and the COM
promise project just adopted by the
House, and that il obviates any neces-
sity for a $4,000, 100000 bond issue,
as proposed by William G. McAdoo.
Nothing SavorinE of Tip.
From the standpoint of ex-soldiers
the Jacobstein bill relieves the
bonus of anything savoring of a
dole or a tip for patriotic service.
Its basic purpose is to look out for
former service men only when they
are out of jobs, in bad health or in
capacitated by age from earning
These are the outstanding features
of the scheme:
!. Insurance against Unemployment
III weekly allotments up to the amount
an eX-Service man is entitled to In
the form of adjusted compensation.
,. Insurance against sickness. not
confined to or connected with service
origin, to be paid in weekly install
ments up to the limit of service cred
it's due him by virtue of his adjusted
compensation, as set forth in the Dill
vetoed by President Harding.
). Old-age pensions against inca
pacity to earn livelihood. to be paid
in weekly installments.
The Jacobstein bill offers these
benefits in addition to the other op-
tions provided in the vetoed bonus
bill--vocational training. education.
home buying. homestead settlement
or death benefits.
Finds Legion Receptive.
The Rochester representative in
forms this writer that he has taken
occasion to assure himself. both IN
American Legion circles and among
leading business men, that his plan IS
poth feasible and attractive. Here's
a typical illustration of the soldiers
point of view said Representattve
Jacobstein. The other day cyhnaos In aoch,
husky daredevil who hardly knows
fear, and who had Il real record on
the fighting line. He is the kind OF
fellow who can look any one In the
eye and bsl ts hsnn hm to a5orns 5o hU for some
years under an impression that the
world owed him a good deal for hay
ing so successfully saved it for de.
mocracy. 1 asked him how ne felt
about this bonus business. Well he
replied. "a, first was in hopes of
our getting it, and now l hope we
don't get it. I was surprised. and
asked him why. He answered: sup
pose we got $500 or $500. or even
$400: 1t would be just like finding IL.
Within two or three months most OF
us wouldn't have nickel left, ana
il wouldn't do any of US any reai
good If am ever to get anything
! would much rather have 1t when l
get old | would then have some
thing when 7 really need 1t the most
and It would be relief to know
wouldn't have to face life in a SOL
dier's home.
Quotes Business Man.
Jacobstein quotes a big Rochester
business man, whose views the con
capitalist class. This captain of In
dustry said to me: OF course, as you
know, I'm against any bonus propo-
sition on general principles, but pro-
vision for old age annulties is
responsibility that industries certain
" owe their employees, and am In"
rlined to feel that all organizations
owe their employees. 1t isn't very
far step from that proposition TO
YOUR proposals for the ex-soldfers.. l
consider them the most constructive
suggestion yet put forward.
The New Yorker plans to appear be-
fore the House ways and means COM
,nittee while the bonus is under con-
unacceptable. Jacobstein expects to OF.
fer it as an amendment on the floor of
the House.
Washington Backed Bonus.
Mr.. Jacohstein has been doing a lot
of research work designed to show
ex-service men that they are in excel
lent company in advocating the bonus.
He has dug deep into both pre-revo-
lutionary, revolutionary and pre-civfl
war history for the purpose. Wash
ington and Lincoln are cited as Jacob
STEMS classic witnesses as to the re-
spectability and the justice of a bonus
for men who fought for their country:
The representative has had reproduced
communication which Gen. Washing
ton addressed to Congress in January.
1878. advocating liberality in giving
special bonuses to officers. non-com-
nissioned officers and enlisted men. He
tas also disinterred a memorial ad-
dressed to Congress by the officers Of
the Revolutionary Army. praying in
vigorous terms for adjusted compen-
sation'' for "the honor of human ma
ture.''
One of Jacobstein's most interesting
bonus exhibits is Capt. Abraham Lin
coins" application in August, 1865. for
- land-grant of forty acres for services
as Il volunteer in the Illinois Mounted
Regiment in the war with "the British
band of Sacs and other tribes of In
dians on our northwestern frontier in
1882. known as the Black Hawk war,
applicant having served in said war
about forty days
Copyright, 1924.)