Evening star., 1946-08-16

responsible for this situation and
ought to be kicked good and proper
for its action. For no such bill would
have been introduced or passed
had the Army, resurrecting a very
old law not paid out to officers
some $50,0O0,000 for extra leave to
which they were not really entitled
AS soon as this became known
the natural question was why dis
crlminate against enlisted men?" AT
once bill went in and, with great
speed, came out of the House Mill
tary Committee, of which that stain
less statesman and patriot, Andrew
j. May. is chairman.
Bonus Bill to Come.
The Army was aghast; the Treas
ury was aghast; the White House
was aohast-and good many men,
bers of Congress were aghast. Be-
cause they all knew that this was
not the soldiers bonus bill That
will come in next year and it will be
"beaut."
This was just little gift from
a debt-burdened Government of
four billion and more to enlisted
men because officers had been given
little gift of S50000,000 under an
old law that very few persons knew
anything about. And nothing could
be done about it because it was
election year and a very large num-
Der of enlisted men regarded any
one who suggested that this involved
very large sum of money which the
Government could not afford as a
double-dyed Notwithstanding him
with abusive letters and personal
threats.
So it passed the House without a
single voice being raised in opposi-
ton and only one member-Repre-
sentative Wadsworth of New York
not voting for it. Mr.. WadsWorth
did not dodge the vote. as he easily
could. When his name was called he
answered present" which was
equivalent to saying that he could
not vote against the bill because OF
the manifest injustice done the en-
listed men, but he would not vote
for it because he knew the country
was in no condition to stand such
a drain.
Taft Courageous.
1t went to the Senate, where 1t
Immediately became clear that 1t
was going to pass, extremely few
Senators being willing to risk the
wrath of the veterans three months
before an election.
Considering these things, one cam
not help but admire the character
and courage of Senator Robert A.
Taft of Ohio. 1t is true that Senator
Taft is not a candidate for re-elec-
ton this year. but he is an aspirant
for the presidential nomination In
1948-just as he was in 1910. And he
has stronger support now than he
had then The ordinary public man
or politician in Mr. Tafts position
would have been eager to popular
ize himself with the voters, anxious
to avoid antagonizing any consider
able group of voters. But Mr.. Taft
is not the ordinary politician.
He knew, as did every one else
going to pass the Senate and tina
nothing he could say or do woult
prevent it. Neither the Presiden
nor the Secretary of the Treasur,
nor the party leaders on eithe
side were going to make a fight
There was no reason for him t
stick his neck out He could haV
kept quiet as did a number o
other Senators who felt exactly tn
way Senator Taft felt.
But Senator Taft has a conScienc
that will not permit him to remain
quiet under such circumstances
though he had three sons in tn
armed forces and is as good
friend of the enlisted man as ther
is. Accordingly. he rose in the Sen
ate and saio: Il am opposed to thi
bill because l feel it is an utterly un
iustifiable expenditure of hug
sum OF money"
Opposes Second Mistake.
He then pointed out tnat muster
ing-out pay Of $500 previously hat
been voted to enlisted men solely i,
order to Offset terminal leave pa,
to officers. Now, then" continues
Mr.. Taft, sit Is said that pecaus
Of a mistake land SO far as I an
concerned it certainly was a mis-
take TO give mustering-out pay t
officers who also had termina
leave pay, because by mistak
500 900 men. perhaps, received NOR
than they were entitled TO, now W
must give to 100000 other me
more than $1,000 900 900 to whic
they are not entitled"
No one really contradicted Senate
Taft. No one really could becaus
what he said was so clearly tn
truth. Nevertheless, almost imme
diately the Senate overu helmine
~ voted down an amendment
reduce the amount involved, an
then passed the bill by a voit
vote. This was exactly according
schedule-and no one knew 1t be-
ter than Senator Taft. 1t Is easy
disagree with Mr.. Taft on a nun
Der Of things and sometimes he
wrong. But, when his vote ar
sr,eech on this bill (concernir