Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-19

Agitation by organizations OF veterans
for the payment of the soldier bonus In
fun meets with little support from the
American press, which sees in such
legislation adverse effects on business
conditions and an unwise demand upon
the Treasury in its present state. The
power of the American Legion In put
ting through legislation Is recognized,
but possible loss of influence is fore
seen II the measure is pushed in the
face of opposition from the general
pubic.
Referring to the action Of Legion
naires in its own State, the Topeka
Daily Capital states that kansas vet
Grams are opposed to embarrassment
Of the Treasury in its present difn-
culties." The Topeka paper adds:
"Comdr. O'Neil's statement that the
compensation loans of billion dollars
or more have no relation whatever
to the present deficit of the Treasury
is correct since the Treasury was bound
to provide for the adjusted compensa-
ton scheme. out of which the loans
have been made. Yet it is necessarily
true that the funds, If not made avail
able by taxes, must come from borrow
ing. It is the Treasury that in some
manner is obliged to make these pay
ments. loans and otherwise, out Of
public funds. A total disbursement to
date of upward of five billion dollars
for all Veterans Bureau services neces-
sarily has bearing on a treasury
deficit"
The proposed burden, according to
the Charleston IS. CO Evening Post,
"in the face of q greatly reduced and
steadily falling income, would be q
serious and might prove to be a
L. y,rnNHAAiYl0
continues: "The driving power OF an
organized body, such as the veterans
associations, is much greater than their
numbers justify, because 1t can be con-
centrated upon a point and the pres
sure thus put upon the individual mem
Der Of Congress is not easy to resist.
The American Legion, for example, in
cludes only about one-fourth OF the
whole number of veterans OF the World
War, but 1t exercises more power
full influence on Congress than the
Ilnorganized mass OF veterans"
Voicing disappointment at the atti-
tude of some eX-service men, the
Hartford Times comments: ITO be COM
PEELED to finance in the near future a
So 900 900 900 payment to war veterans
instead of building up this amount in
a sinking fund over a period of years
will mean a most unfortunate burden
on the Federal Treasury, and the re-
suit cannot be other than increased
taxation. In addition to the financial
objection there is also the cogent argu-
ment that If the bonus certificates are
cashed in full at this time one may be
sure the same tactics VIII be applied
to force q new general bonus law
through Congress in the near future"
Warning by a retiring commander of
the Legion in the State of Washington
is quoted by the Yakima Daily Republic,
in the words: IT feel that this Govern
ment has done a great deal for its re-
turned soldiers, and that we are reach
ing a point where additional demands
are going to reflect unfavorably on our
organization" The Republic holds that
this will come with much better grace
on the outside"
1.-TWO serious objections to the plan
arise" according to the Jersey City
Journal. THE purpose of the certifi-
Gates will be entirely defeated the
veterans will not have in old age any
protection as result Of adjusted COM
pensation. just now Is about
the meanest time in the countrys his
tory for any money-grabbing scheme to
be foisted upon the Nation
The Lexington Leader also contends
rCertainly by making demand after de-
mand upon the Government, draining
larger and larger sums from the
Treasury without full justification, the
veterans will create tremendous re-
action in the popular mind and dry up
the sources from which help should
come TO those absolutely entitled to It,"
V such demand" in the Judgment of
the Baltimore sun, would evoke q
much more hostile reaction than any
which the Legion has ever put forward