Evening star., 1944-03-07
Soldier Bonus Battle
Breaks Info Open as
Bills Are Introduced
Both Houses Receive
Measure to Allow
$4,000 Moximum
By the Associated Press,

.
A backstage battle among vet
eranS' organizations over this
wars soldier bonus moved into
the open today as adjusted COM
pensation legislation, sponsored
jointly by five service groups,
was offered in both branches of
Congress.
Acting on behalf of the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars, the Army and
Navy Union, Disabled American
Veterans, the Military Order of the
Purple Heart and the Regular Vet
erans' Association. Senator johnson,
Democrat, Of Colorado, sponsor Of
the Senate bill, said he would ask
for hearings by the Military Affairs
Committee.
Parallel bills were introduced yes
terday by nine House members
Representatives Leaitlski and Din
gell Of Michigan, Sullivan OF Ne
vada, Bates Of Kentucky and fsac
OF California, Democrats, and Carl
son OF Kansas, Case Of South Da-
kota and Rogers of Massachusetts,,
Republicans, and Hagen, Farmer
Laborite, Of Minnesota.
The legislation sponsored by the
service groups and proposing a
maximum bonus of $500 each for
men and women Of the armed
forces for home service and $4,500
for overseas service Is much more
liberal in its benefits than the So
called "G-I" bill, sponsored chiefly
by the American Legion, now pend
Ing before Senate Finance Sub
committee headed by Senator Clark,
Democrat, of Missouri.
Would Provide Bonds.
Warren H. Atherton of the
American Legion has announced
that the organization will conduct
a Nationwide drive March Is to
obtain signatures indorsing the bill.
The five-service group measure
would provide for adjusted service
pay of So daily for home service In
the armed forces and 81 daily for
overseas service, with an extra credit
OF $500 for those wounded.
All compensation above $500 would
be IN the form Of non-negotiable
tax-free Government bonds. Bond
holders could withdraw not more
than one-flfth the face value of
their bonds during the first five
years after their issuance. The
bonds would bear simple interest at
3 per cent for the first five years
and compound interest at per cent
for the second five years.
THE purpose Of the bill is to ad-
just, in a measure, the difference
between the pay of those serving in
the armed forces and civilians en-
ployed in war industry" said a joint
statement by the veterans groups.
THE overall cost to the Govern
ment would be less than the cost OF
four months of actual war expendi-
lures during 1914" Mr.. Lesinski de-
clared.
"GF' Bill Backs Agency.
Benefits proposed in the "GI'
bill include mastering out pay total
ing $500 for 18 months overseas
service, educational training for vet
Grams, farm and home purchase
loans, unemployment aid and un-
employment insurance for the post
discharge period.
The group legislation would ignore
the Veterans Administration, direct
ing the Army and Navy to compute
the compensation allowances and
handle payments through the Treas
ury.
The "GI" bill, on the other hand
would conStitrs the Veterans Ad-
ministration as an essential agency
entitled to certain priorities, second
only to the War and Navy Depart
ments-a point over which there
has been controversy among the
veterans groups.
In Chicago the semimonthly Of
fetal organ of the Disabled Ameri-
can Veterans demanded that Con-
gress keep the Veterans Admins
tration exclusively for America S
wartime disabled veterans.
Asserting that dark days are
ahead for Americas wounded and
disabled if Congress adopts the
"GI" bill, the publication predicted
editorially that chaos will result"
If the Veterans Administration is
given the added responsibility of
administering the proposed bill.
Moi. HeckstolI-Smith Dies
LONDON, Mar. 7 (P).-Maj
Brooke Heckstall-Smith, IA, secre-
tary to the International Yacht
Racing Union and Yacht Racing
Association. died yesterday.