Evening star., 1932-07-08
SIND the Marchers Home

Congress has adopted joint resolu-
ton providing funds up to 100000 for
the transportation back to their homes
and travel subsistence on the way of
the veterans who are now temporarily"
quartered in the District of Columbia.
These funds are to be loaned to the
veterans and charged without interest
against their adjusted service certifi-
Gates, or bonus, remaining to be paid
The credits, which are to be extended
by the Veterans Bureau, will be avail
able until July Is, or one week from
today. No provision is made for any
transportation after that date.
1t now remains to be seen whether
the veterans who are still in this city
will avail themselves of this opportunity
to return to their homes, virtually at
their own expense. The joint resolu-
tion makes no provision for the evacu-
alton of the "army" in case the men
do not accept the tender Of transporta-
tion funds. If they decline to do so
and continue in the District, Congress
presumably having adjourned before the
expiration OF the limit of time within
which the travel and subsistence loan
is available, the problem of the pres
ence of these unlimited visitors at the
Capital will remain unsolved, perhaps
to the serious embarrassment of the
local authorities and it may be to the
menace Of the peace and health of the
community
This is a National and not local
problem These men are here as pc
titioners for legislation. 1t has been
denied them and there is no chance
for reversal of the decision of Congress
to that effect: The passage yesterday
of the joint resolution quite definitely
put an end to any prospect of recon-
sideration. If Congress adjourns with
merely the pro. .-ision of travel and SUBJ
sistence funds, with time limit of
availability, it leaves the District with
a burden that it should not be required
to bear
There is no disposition in Washing
ton, If there were the means, to provide
for the bonus army. At present the
means of subsistence are coming from
outside OF the District, through gifts of
supplies and cash. There is no assur-
ance that these gifts will continue when
all chance for bonus legislation at this
session has positively passed. On the
contrary, 1t is altogether likely that
they will cease. There will then arise
situation Of extreme gravity, with sew
eral thousand men-and some women
and children-encamped in insanitary
quarters and without food.
The marchers have now, in effect, a
weeks notice to quit. If their leaders
have the best interests of the men at
heart they will advise them to accept
the travel loan and turn back toward
their homes even though there is slight
prospect Of succor there. To urge them
to stay here is to keep them In deeper
and deeper distress and perhaps to
bring them TO face utter disaster. 1t is
idle to suggest that consideration for
the welfare of this community, for
which they have no concern whatever,
requires that they take this chance to
get back to their starting points They
should do so for their own good. Per-
sistent refusal will belle their repeated
declarations Of loyalty to the Govern
ment and give encouragement to the
radical element which has thus far been
held in subordination, an element that
is merely using the bonus plea as an
excuse for presence in Washington for
sinister purposes.