Evening star., 1937-06-15
MOST BONUSES i
ALREADY ARE GONE
Few Veterans, Paid Year
Aqo, Withstood All De-
mandS on Funds.

year?
Gone and forgotten, most of them,
like the old SHOWS of which the
vagabond poet of France wrote.
1t was year ago today that the
Veterans Administration and the
Post Office Department began the
colossal job OF delivering 100000
$50 bonds to some 100000 ex-serv-
Ice men-bonds, most Of them con-
verted Immediately into cash.
What became Of the money?
It poured into the channel Of COM
t1erce through every conceivable
source, from making down payment
on home to buying a spare set of
teeth, from purchasing an interest
in restaurant to having one grand
and glorious vacation.
Yet here and there you actually
find a veteran who withstood all
temptation and has kept his bonds
In strong box or their cash equiva-
lent in bank. But these thrifty re-
cipients of a grateful Government S
largess are hard to find.
There were too many debts staring
at most veterans to consider saving
much. II debts were not pressing,
there were things which they and
their families wanted urgently.
Unexpected Needs Arose.
Random talk with Capital veterans
seemed to reveal that most of them
got distinct service of one kind or
another out of the final half OF their
adjusted service certificates
Most of them made definite plans
while they were awaiting their bo-
muses.. They figured just how they'd
get the most out of that money And
some of them did exactly what they
planned.
But life-cirCumStance, fate, what
ever you want to call it-has a way
of lnterrupting plans. Many veterans
were sidetracked and spent the money
for needs not even on the horizon
during the months they were waiting
A year ago The Star asked a num-
Der of District veterans what they
intended to do with their bonuses
Ralph R. Leonard of 300 Kennedy
street, who is senior vice commander
Of the National Capital Chapter OF
the Disabled American Veterans, said
he planned, for one things, to attend
the national conclave of the order in
Milwaukee and after that to make
few purchases of things he long
had coveted.
He went to the convention, he re-
called today, but as soon as he got
back his young son was rushed to the
hospital for midnight appendectomy
There went the rest of the bonus"
Leonard added. But at least l got
the trip, and I managed to buy a few
things, too, though not many"
Still Paying for Home.
Corpl. Arthur H. Tyre, Army Medi-
cal Corps, stationed at Walter Reed
Hospital, revealed plans as the post
man handed him his batch of bonus
bonds to finish paying for his home
at 6919 Sixth street.
But "other things intervened, and
he's still paying for the home, but
he did meet some other needs, and
thai house, where he lives with his
wife and daughter, will be his in due
season.
r. E. Casey OF 1e9 U street north
east said on the eve of receipting for
his bonus: I'll put it away, I guess. u
Instead he bought a new car.
But I'm satisfied" he explained
"1've got a good car, which otherwise
I wouldn't have had"
Edwin w. Hollander of 231O Ash
mead place, who is with the A. A. A.,
planned to use his bonus "for a nest
egg"
Most of it is still nesting, waiting
70 be hatched some rainy day.
Paul G. Rhodes, who lives at 1880
Rhode Island avenue northeast and
works for the Treasury Department,
Is another who refused to be diverted
from his purpose Of keeping at least
part Of the money.
He took care OF some obligations
but still has good share of his
bonus.
His brother, John Rhodes of Buf-
falo, who was in Washington last year
and received his bonus here, found
1t real windfall' John is q pro-
fessional organist, but he was out of
work. The bonus put him back on
his feet. He discovered an opening
In Detroit and now is pursuing his
musical career successfully there.
Helped Improve Home.
Joseph A. Ashi, an attorney, planned
to renovate his house at 64o2 Seventh
street. He wanted to paper, paint
waterproof and insulate. Well, he did
part of it.
Il couldn't do all I wanted" he ey-
planned. You see, there were a few
oohgatlons But We did pretty WELL
Some veterans have only transien,
memories to show for the bonus
Others have tangible results, like
Louis Koehler, who moved from ,
city fiat, bought a 6-acre farm 1r
Prince Georges County, Md, and pro.
ceeded to remodel a rickety hou..
into pleasant home.