Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-19
BE-, MARER SPEAKS
TO LEGION POST ON
COMPENSATION BILL

Hon. Benedict +. Maher Of Augusta
addressed the members of the George
y. Bourque Post, American Legion, and
many business men of this city last
evening on the adjusted compensation
bill. The address was very compre-
hensiye and Mr.. Mahcr gave many
concise illustrations to show how the
bill could be paid without seriously
impairing the funds Of the treasury.
Commander Cyril NJ. Jolly announced
that the regular meeting of the post
would first be held. This regular ses-
sion proved interesting to the hum
drcds of friends of the Legion assem-
bled ut the meeting.
Finance officer Lorimer II. Dixon
reported substantial balance in the
post checking account. Service officer
A. Raymond Rogers reported on two
deserving cases that had been helped.
Letters from the president and sec
rotary of the KiwaniS Club We're read
expressing regrets at not being able
to be present at the meeting as the
kiwanis Club had previous plans for
the observance of ladies' night. DIR.
Frederick r. Hill reported that about
S13J was cleared for the Legion relief
fund through contributions at the
CimbolIck Sunday afternoon
Paul Dundas was elected chairman
OF the finance committee to replace
Paul Julien. whose resignation was
accepted.
Commander Jolly was unanimously
elected chairman of the Legion Fourth
of July committee.
Commander Jolly introduced Hon.
Benedict l.. Maher of Augusta as the
principal speaker of the evening. Mr..
M1hcr opened his address as follows:
Whether YOU term it bounty. bonus
or compensation. this is just eco
romical charge by the man power of
the nation, Of the material power of
tho nation, because it is based upon
precedent warranted by promise, eco
nomically sound and rooted in justice.
Every soldier from the Revolution to
the World War given bounty, bonus
or compensation, both political parties
in the last national campaign declared
for It,
Economically it is sound because il
will put no undue charge upon bust
ness. nor is it inconsistent with wise
tax reform.
The objection in 1899 that it could
not be paid because OF n threatened
deficit in the treasury was shown to be
billion dollars wrong in fact.
The present So-callcd Mellon plan
calls for a $3e3. 100000 tax reduction.
The present compensation act calls for
$So.000. 600 n year. Simple arithmetic
shows n possible $243, 1000, o00 reduction
and payment Of the SS0,00Q. 900 adjust
ed compensation.
The excess profit tax repealed in
1922 reduced taxes q billion a year.
The SurtaN on incomes were reduced
from G5 per cent. to 60 per cent. and
wo can have a further reduction of
S2i%.0O0. 090 n year and pay the bonus.
Shall we forget that for five years
these men have been paying their
share of our debt?
Shall we forget that s242. 200, 600
has been paid in adjusted Compen-
sation to civilian employees of the
Government"
Shall we forget that these men
got $50 n month i'll the trenches
while their chums got $50 day in
the ship yards?
Shall We forget that sS24,o0OOOo
was paid in adjusted compensation
to the railroad?
Shall we forget that 100000 900
WAS paid in adjusted compensation
to the war contractors?
Shall we forget that every one of
the allied nations from the Con-
tincnt to Australia have paid their
men,
Shall we forget that Canada to the
north, has paid their men $500 a
piece. while the United States with
$500. Oo0, 100000 of wealth, has paid
its men only SEQ piece.
Shall we forget that twenty states
have Overwhelmingly endorsed the
principle.
Shall we forget after ALL that it is
simply question of what the ma
jority of the country thinks is the
more deserving the reduction from
so to IS per cent of the war tax of
men with incomes ranging from $751;
600 to 100000 n year. or the pay
ment OF n SIPS n day for not over
five hundred days. to the men who
made those incomes possible.
you have a lot and that evening
You hear n lot about this bill that
some call bonus declared Judge
Maher. but it ISIS imply an act OF
economic Justice.
The speaker went on TO give some
particulars concerning the adjusted
compensation bill. Any service man
home or abroad, with an honorable
discharge would receive one dollar
n day for those who served on this
side and Sl.25 for the men VINO serv-
cd overseas. not to exceed $500 in
the first case or s6e5 in the second
case.
"You have heard of the tremend-
ous amount of money that was going
TO be put into this, averred the Judge,
"but there are only a few who are
required to take cash payment.
There are three options. 1st, 90
YEAR endowment certihcate. Inat
MIN con do certain things with that
The first three years he
can horrow up TO SO per cent. from