Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-07
Wide Bonus Debate Reveals
Possibility of Compromise

Action by leaders Of the American
Legion in favor of payment Of cash
by the Government on certificates of
the veterans of the World War has re-
suited in a great national discussion,
with the majority opinion tending to-
ward compromise which will provide
| specific remedy for the needy rather
| than a general disbursement of funds.
Representative and Senator's" says
the Milwaukee Journal, know that the
plan of wholesale cash payments with
out regard to need Is wrong. But many
will be fearful that vote against such
a plan will be used against them in
coming campaigns. Surely it Is the
duty of service men as we'll as others
to say to their Congressman: Look
after those who are in need. We want
| those who risked everything taken care
of. Those who are not in need are not
the men to press their country for cash
at time like this" The Lowell Eve
ming Leader declares: There is no
denying that many veterans are now
feeling the economic pinch seriously.
The question is whether it Is not pos
sible without too great drain on the
Treasury to provide relief in such a
manner that they may retain their
rights in the certificates. To retard
business recovery would put them at a
fresh disadvantage"
"The declaration by the National Ex-
ecutive Committee of the American
Legion that the Government imme-
diately cash all of the compensation
certificates of the veterans" in the
opinion of the Fort Worth Record
Telegram, will hardly record the opin-
| ions of the rank and file of the organ
iZation members" That paper con-
| cludes: Congress so easily could in
clude the completion of all of the hos
pitalization projects and cut all Of the
| red tape in those individual cases of
men suffering because they cannot
| prove their claims If it could but be
! induced to stay with the practical and
remain away from the political contacts
with the ex-service men there could
be much deserved alienation of suffer-
| ing and a commendable increase in the
circulation of money"
The San Francisco Chronicle declines
to argue the question. but offers I'm
| formation to aid intelligent discussion
of the various proposals." Pointing out
| that Congress voted a bonus of 81 a
day for each day Of service, with some
additional allowance for overseas serv-
ice," that paper contributes these facts
| to the record: "Then - as now - the
problem of paying the bonus in spot
cash was the problem of raising the
immense amount Of money involved
without disaster to the financial struc-
ture Of the country. To avoid this
| danger and for other sound reasons the
existing plan of deferred payment was
| devised. If the Government
changes the plan and now cashes the
certificate at maturity face value 1t
| pays $1,000 for SPAS of actuarial value.
Or, figuring 1t on the actual bonus. the
Government would be paying 81 900 for
$500 bonus which has earned five
years interest, minus the cost of in
surance coverage for five years"
THE proposal certainly has two
sides, each of which should be con-
sidered by those who favor cashing
those certificates at this time" advises
the Little Rock Arkansas Democrat. Of
fering the queries: IF those veterans
| sacrifice their insurance. what provision
can they make for caring for their sur
vivors? While their need is great to-
day, is 1t any greater than will be the
need Of their loved ones If they are left
| alone to fight the worlds battles? Do
those veterans need their insurance
money today more than they will need
1t in old age?"
1--WE believe" says the Rockford
Morning Star, that at the present time
the mon who once wore World War uni
lOIItLo are JllS phEkDOle OF Ule NaUlOn'S
| economic structure and there is no
question but that in five or ten years
they will have taken over largely the
mature leadership of the economic COM
munity. We think 1t is a proud thing
that these men can lay claim to this
leadership, for they took the handicap
of a year or two years out of their
| lives and still made good. 1t is for the
veterans themselves to determine
whether as they go into middle life
they will assume the extra burden on
business of the billions of dollars in
! compensation"
1.-THE Legion's first, its highest pur-
pose" according to the Omaha World
Herald, must be to fight the battles of
those who were disabled, or lend the
helping hand to the families of vet
Grams, living or dead. No other cause
could hold the Legion togather, no other
service would justify It's existence. Pay
ment of the bonus now is a question
of justice, of financing and of legisla-
ton that cannot be referred to the
Legion for solution. 1t must be solved
! by President and Congress, and from
President and Congress the answer
must come. The responsibility is theirs
end no others"