Evening star., 1932-04-19

two years old to borrow on them," he
added.
Under La Guardias unemployment
insurance proposal, an unemployment
commission would be created to main
tain an unemployment insurance fund
by welfare tax on employees and en-
ployers, including special tax on all
incomes.
Shortly before today's hearing open
ed Representative Mapes, Republican,
or Michigan, announced his opposition
to full payment Of the bonus on the
Srounds the Treasury was in no shape
to pay 1t now and the money imitation
plan was unsound. He made his views
known in reply to the secretary of
the Michigan State Senate acknowl-
edging receipt of a resolution adopted
by that group advocating immediate
payment.
La Guardia said the committee should
consider whether the American people
through Congress have properly pro-
vided for the veterans"
"On the whole, believe that Con-
gress has responded since 1919 to every
demand and every request of the World
War veterans" he said.
The room was crowded with ex-
service men when La Guardia began.
Representative Patman, Democrat, of
Texas, the leading bonus sponsor,
listened from the first row.
Exceeded All Estimates.
La Guardia said the number Of vet
erans who took advantage of the so per
cent loan value authorized last year
far exceeded all estimates"
LAS I read the history Of the treat
ment of veterans by this Congress" he
said, II am just as certain as I am
standing here this morning that legis-
lation will be passed refunding the
interest charges on these loans.
Sponsors Of this plan frankly admit
the object is imitation. submit it is
hardly fair to use the veterans for the
purpose of initiating the currency-that
is, defiate the dollar. We promised to
pay them In good, wholesome American
dollars, and we should pay them in
that"
La Guardia said another argument is
that there is "a critical PERCENTAGE CT
unemployment and deStitution among
the veterans"
If only the veterans were unem-
ployed, We could deal with the situa-
tion satisfactorily, he said.
But making wholly extravagant al
lowances, only 13 per cent of the un-
employed are veterans.
Can We take that small group and
disregard the need of others? Can we
go TO the extent of putting printing
presses to work and printing $4,000
100000? Will that solve the unemploy-
ment problem?
Let us do something that will really
help the veterans and at the same time
took to preventing these economic de-
pressions in the future.
Wants Insurance Fund.
"Since the war every possible prefer
ence has been given the veterans by
civil governments, both National and
State.
What will be the feeling of the vet
eran's neighbor who is out of work If
Congress says it has settled the un-
employment question by paying the
bonus.
Before long, some of the people now
opposing the bonus will come out for it
for selfish reasons. Don't pick a small
percentage of the unemployed and at
the same time include q large number
who are employed.
When unemployment insurance and
dash to pay this bonus.
IF we are going to print money let
us use that money as an initial fund
for national unemployment insurance.
IT say that If secret vote were taken
on this bonus plan in the House there
would not be 80 votes for it. say that
advisedly after cloak-room gossip
"I am here this morning ON behalf of
5000, 900 unorganiZed unemployed, who
have no means of reaching Congress
and can't understand why Congress
doesn't do something" he said.
Representative Rankin Democrat, Of
Mississippi, a bonus advocate, passed to
the press table statement that this
panic cannot be cured by dole that
would not expand the currency or raise
commodity prices, but would take bill
lions of dollars from the American peo-
pie through taxation and distribute it
To the uOempl0vad f"