The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1938-02-25
AFTER THE BoNUs-PENSIoNS
christian Science Monitorl

How long is the memory of the American
people? Within the next few years it will be
gradually and increasingly dinned into their ears
that they forgetful and ungrateful of the
services rendered by men who risked their all to
serve in the army and navy during the World War
An effort viii be made by veterans Iobbies-is be-
ing made-to shame them into granting blanket
pensions to widows and dependents of former
service men by saying the nation owes a debt to
them
How long, indeed, is the memory q, of the
American people?
Does it recall the purposes of President Wood
row Wilson in obtaining the provision of war risk
insurance by the Government for members Of the
armed forces during that conflict? Wilson was a
historian He knew the costs of wars and how sue
ceeding generations went on paying for them He
sought to avert the need and the demand of pen
SionS by providing in advance for compensation to
the families of men who fell in the service or as
result of it
But that was not enough Does the American
public remember the Adjusted Compensation acts
of the early I92Os? Bonus agitation was begun
then. Statesmen tried to meet it in a way that
nation could finance and that would do the voter
the maximum good at the time he would prob
ably need it most The adjusted compensation was
arranged to be paid in ls45 and after. Does the
American public remember that?
But 1915 was not soon enough. The veterans
Hobbies Ehad TO collect the bonus before it was
raised. They induced Congress to override Presi-
dent Roosevslts veto in 1885 and pay 1t immed-
lately. One argument that weighed heavily &ith
many citizens was that here vas a debt that had
been acknowledged TO the veterans; why not pay
it at once and have it discharged? The implIca-
ton was that by meeting the obligation thel IL
would not have to be discharged in later years.
the veteran and and his family would be able 70
take care OF themselves The veterans Organlza-
tons carefully avoided committing themselves to
this implication but softened the sentiments Of
many citizens and Congressman into going along
with them
Thousands Of American fornier service men
are in hospitals CT are working under handbags
today-txenty years after the war-as result Of
Sacrifices made actually IN the firing line or IN
the line Of duty The United States owes us first
der 10 those men and should positively and g=ner-
ously remember L. The nation should reneuber.
no that every dollar dsSipated wasteful blank
. - Esnsiehs IN pressure group pension scandals
such as those after the Civil War reduces oy
that much the resources available 10 discharge
the deb, 10 the most deserving.
Under the legislation proposed, # man who
served merely a fe~ safe months n training camp
should forty years later marry. MS wife, who
knew nothing OF ire anxiety q waiting Tor sol
6ier's return could SUI be drawing pension az
ter forty years fer service n which ne Incurred
little more rlsk hardship than n ordinary dsily
tasks And such pension might indirectly L Al
re oosi q adequate 70 the actual victims ot
t.e ravages O var. VII he American people r.
member thats