Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-07-09
Bonus Bill
Introduced
In Congress
Soldier Pay Would 90
AOn After War
BY DAMON RUNYON

III r. 1898, introduced in the
Ii. House of Representatives
June %, 1912, by Walter A.
Lynch, member of Congress
from the Twenty-second District
of New York (the Bronx, reads
as follows:
A bill
To continue the pay OF all
persons serving in the armed
forces of the United States
for one year after the termi-
nation of the present conflict.
Be il enacted by the Senate
and the House of Representa-
tives of the United States of
America in Congress assem-
bled:
That the pay of all persons
in the armed forces of the
United States on or after Dec.
8, 1941, and to the date Of the
termination of the present
conflict, unless previously
honorably discharged, shall
be continued for one year
from the date of their honor
able discharge.
THE bill was referred TO the
Il committee on military
affairs with which il now re-
poses. When bill goes TO
committee, il is no sure thing
it will ever be heard of again
unless its author is man of
great perseverance and earnest
ness of purpose and also of a
little influence. / am told that
Mr.. Lynch possesses all the
former attributes if not the lat
ter and I expect him TO follow
up his bill until he gets a de-
cision.
You have TO be careful about
mentioning a specific figure in
print as readers are inclined to
remember that figure without
reference 10 its connotations.
said not long ago that the larg-
est amount paid the veterans OF
World War l adjusted compen-
sation. or bonus, was 81 500 and
some folks seem 10 think /
meant that this is the sum that
should be paid each and every
veteran of this war if my sug-
gestion for pay continuance is
adopted.
AS a matter OF fact, many OF
the first World War vets re-
ceived considerably less than
1.500. that being the most any
individual could get. II is my
theory Of the pay continuance
that it should be based on the
same general principles OF the
World War / bonus, including
length of service. though i think
/ there should be a minimum OF
not less than the equivalent OF a
years service pay under the new
scale.
I WANT to see each and every
Il man who serves in this war
placed in a financial position
after the war 10 rest and recu-
perate and TO have sufficient time
TO readiust himself TO civilian
life without having TO worry
about where he is going 10 get
his next meal.
l have not forgotten and |
shall not forget the distress that
prevailed among many of the
men who served their country
and their flag in the last war
after hostilities ended and they
found themselves broke and out
of jobs.
/ want 10 sec each and every
man in this war receive his
money at a time when II Will do
him the most good and not have
10 go through the political ira
vail of over 20 years that was
endured by the veterans Of 1917
18 before they got the bonus.
l believe that continuing the
pay of the soldiers and sailors
after their discharge from the
service will eliminate the unrest
and discomfort that followed the
other war.
L FIND much moro civilian ap-
L proval than opposition 10 my
idea, especially from the Older
folks who remember when the
boys came home from Europe.
They remember all the things L
have mentioned in connection
with my support of the continu-
ance of pay. including the civil
ian neglect Of the former soldiers
and sailors.
Those who did not go TO war
wanted TO forget everything
about the war and the sight OF
a uniform stirred them. 1t will
be the same way again after this
war, despite the patriotic fervor
of the moment. which. as in the
other war, is apparently hottest
in many of those who did not go
the last time and are not going
this time if they can help it.
Copyright. 1912. by King Features
Distributed by international News Service