Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-27
JOHNSON CHARGES
BONUS LOBBYING
Asserts "CommerCiaIized So
Iicitation of Signatures ON
Petitions" Is Practiced.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Existence of a Lobbying racket"
worked throughout the country by agi-
tators for cash payment of veterans
compensation certificates, was charged
today by Chairman Johnson of the
House Veterans Committee.
The South Dakota Republican said
"commercialized solicitation of citizens
signatures on petitions to Congress" was
being extensively practiced.
Here is plain case of racketeering,"
he added. 1T is prospering, like several
previously exposed schemes, on Ameri-
can sympathy with former soldiers"
johnson cited about 1000 petitions
bearing about so names each.
THE organization that got these out
required a cash tribute of 10 cents from
every person who signed" he said.
Starting on the West Coast, it worked
South and East, through Texas, to this
Capital 1t advertised employment in
newspapers and offered each person re-
spending the opportunity to cooperate
in its scheme.
Pay SIS for $50 Petitions.
Applicants accepting pay SIS for $50
petitions, or so cents each, with the I'M
derstanding that they circulate the Pc
titionS, charging 10 cents for every sig
nature secured for the so blank spaces.
The IS realized on each petition is
pocketed by the circulatorS or divided
with Subordinates they in turn may en-
ploy under any financial arrangement
they can make"
There are legitimate citizens who
honestly believe that the adjusted COM
penSation certificates should be paid in
full" johnson added. "Of course, they
have the right to express their convic-
lions to committees and individual
members of Congress; that is a right of
citizenship. My objection is to. the
racketeering."
Representative Patman, Democrat,
Texas, who received this group of petit
tons and forwarded them to the COM
mittee, said he regarded them as lob
bying, but added:
The fact that citizen is willing to
pay to sign indicates genuine interest
in the legislation"
Hawley Voices Opposition.
Opposition to the proposal was ex-
pressed yesterday by Chairman Hawley
of the House Ways and Means Com
mittee.
Il am standing by the American Le-
gion Convention in Boston," Hawley
said. The matter was before the con-
vention there and the Legion declined
to take action on it.
We've been working with the Legion
all the way through, and so far 1t has
presented nothing of this nature"
When asked whether a change in the
Legion's attitude would modify his po-
sition, Hawley said, THAT is a ques-
ton for the future"
The Oregonian said he plans no
hearings by his committee on pending
bills for cash payments on certificates.
His committee would act in such meas
ures.
Meanwhile Representative Fish, Re-
publican, New York, has started drive
to get the American Legion on record
on his plan for a payment of one
fourth the face value of the certificates.
Fish said local chapters have already
unanimously Endorsed his measure and
National Comdr. O'Neil of Kansas has
been asked for his opinion.
Prepare for Loans.
Oficials of the Veterans Bureau to-
day were preparing for 100000 appli-
cations from former soldiers for loans
upon their adjusted service certificates,
which increase in value with the new
year.
approximately $4,000 is expected
to be handed to the quarter million,
and during the year, the bureau pre-
diets $125,000,000 will be loaned upon
the certificates.
Two hundred and fifty employees are
being added to the bureau staff to care
for the rush in January which is the
peak month Seventy-five will work in
Washington, with the remainder in the
regional offices.