Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-26

Discussion of the soldier bonus bill,
raising the loan value Of certificates to
so per cent of the face value, reveals
differences of opinion as to the effect
of the expected total on the economic
condition of the country There Is I'M
certainty as to the number of ex-service
men that would take advantage of the
opportunity and as to the ease with
which the payments could be met by
the Treasury. Some opponents of the
measure contend that overwhelming
votes in the two houses of Congress
represented the influence of a minority
among citizens, although others empha
size the obligation of the country to
its soldiers.
Viewing the relation of the payments
to war among the nations, the St.
Louis Times states: War has become
business and a bad one. 1t is eco
nomically unsound and insensible. Now
that we are recognizing these simple
but long-obScured facts, we should also
be fair to the men who do the Nations
work in carrying out that Nations I'M
wise will. And as soon as this or any
other country pays each Of its soldiers
what his time and risk are worth it
will find that war is far more expensive
than has hitherto been shown; too
in the balance sheet of history"
Referring to action in Congress Gin
spite of Secretary Melons warning"
the Chattanooga News doubts that "the
loans to veterans will disturb the situa-
tion," and is convinced that 1.-The COM
promise is a happy solution" The
Kalamazoo Gazette believes that while
political considerations invariably play
their part in the treatment of veterans
aid proposals, it seems quite possible
that in this case the Representatives
have weighed Mr.. Melons arguments
carefully and found them wanting"
That paper adds: IF the veterans were
to make no more use of the new loan
value than they have made of the
present privilege, the outstanding loans
would be increased by only about $780,
100000 And that sum is but slightly
more than the Treasury is already
obligated to make"
1T is evident" thinks the Omaha
World Herald. that half the number
of veterans in the country prefer to
hold their certificates as endowment
policies, and of the remainder a large
number have negotiated only temporary
loans, and those somewhat below the
maximum allowed It is reasonable to
suppose that an increase in the loan
total number of borrowers or the
amount of loans to only temporary
borrowers" The Richmond Times-Dis-
patch quotes fiscal experts as saying
that this will mean an increase in
taxes" but adds: Congress was in a
humor to grant in full the value of the
certificates; half of that amount in
loans, they thought, was getting the
Government of easy. In any event,
the bill seems good in law" concludes
the Times Dispatch.
X X
I'VE believe" says the st. Louis Post
Dispatch, Mr. Hoover unduly exagger-
ated the effect that this bill will have
on the country. He speaks Of what the
Government would have to raise for the
veterans as a liability This liability
was assumed when the adjusted COM
pensation act was passed in 1924. The
money then allocated to ex-soldiers is
a Government obligation. The present
bill creates no new obligation. 1t does
not propose giving away anything that
has not been given away before. All it
does is to make it possible for the ex-
soldiers to borrow more money on rea-
Sonable terms; in other words, it does
for them what the Government has al
ready done for the farmers. The Gov
eminent cannot lose by the tranSac-
ton"
The measure has been supported,
against the warning of the President"
according to the Philadelphia Evening
Bulletin, lin the belief that the Amer
lean Legion and the force of public
opinion will restrain an unnecessary de-
mand upon the Federal Treasury and
that the service men will once more
evidence their patriotism by restraining
a ruinous raid on Government finances. |
The measure can be supported, in the
face of the figures presented by the |
President. only in the belief that it will
De used for needed relief and not abused |
In general rush to cash in.''
Possibility that business will be bene- |
dted by the bonus distribution. Is sug-