Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1921-07-14
PRESIDENT TAKES A
COURAGEOUS STAND
IN ADDRESS BEFORE SENATE
PRESIDENT SAYS ADDED BUR-
DENs CANNOT BE ACCEPTED

Enactment at the present moment
of adjusted compensation legislation
for veterans of the world war would
greatly imperil the financial stabil
ity Of our country" President Hard
ing told the senate at Washington
Tuesday in the second address he
has made to that body during his ad-
ministration.
Every obligation is to the dis
abled and dependent, the president
said, and the executive branch owed
il to the country frankly to state
the difficulties we daily are called
upon to meet, and the added peril
this measure would bring"
This menacing effort to expend
billions in gratuities will imperil
our capacity to discharge our first
obligations to those we must not fail
to aid" he said. {.
After four months survey OF
conditions (which would stagger all
of us were 1t not for our abiding
faith in America" the president
said, he was fully persuaded that
three things were essential to restor-
alton.
"These are" he continued, "the
revision, including reduction, of our
internal taxation, the refunding OF
our war debt, and Che adjustment
of our foreign loans.
"It is vitality necessary to settle
these problems before adding to our
treasury any burden as is contemp-
lated in the pending bill.
Would Invite Disaster
.ir. Harding said 1t was "unthink-
able" to expect business revival
while maintaining "the excessive
taxes of war" and quite as I'M
thinkabIe" to reduce tax burdens
while committing the treasury to
additional obligations ranging from
three to five billion dollars"
"If the exercise OF the option
should call for cash running into
billions, the depression in finance
and industry would be so marked
that vastly more harm than good
would attend"
II know the feelings of my own
breast and that of yours and the
grateful people OF this republic"
said the president. "But no thought
full person, possessed with all the
facts, is ready for added compensa-
ton for. the healthful, self-reliant
masses of our great armies, at the
cost OF treasury breakdown which
will bring its hardships to all the
citizens of the republic"
While he spoke in this emphatic
manner against passage Of the bonus
now, Mr.. Harding declared in un-
mistakable language for the fullest
measure of relief to the disabled vet
Grams of the world war. He express
ed fear that enactment Of the bonus
would so cripple the treasury that II
would be impossible for the govern
ment to discharge its first obliga-
tions to those we must not fail to
aid"
He flatly contradicted charges
that the nation has neglected its de-
tenders and recited an impressive ar
ray of figures to show what the gov
eminent has expended for veterans
relief. He told the senate that 26,'
237 disabled soldiers have been hos
pitalized and that in government
controlled hospitals today there are
5000 available beds without occu'
pants, Notwithstanding charges OF
American Legion representatives
and other witnesses before the SEN
ate relief committee that hospita
facilities have been inadequate.
"overburdening Of the treasury
now means positive disaster in the
years Immediately before US" he
said. interest prudence calls out in
war. ing"
Mr.. Harding said he would moi
urge recommitment of the compen'
sation bill to committee II it "bore
the merest suggestion of neglect Of
a hint of national ingratitude."
1T want to emphasize the sugges
tion," he said, "that the accomplish
ment of the major tasks for which
you were asked to sit in extraordin
airy session will have a reassurint
effect on the entire country and
speed our resumption of normal &C
tivities and their rewards which tent
to make a prosperous and happ,
people"
When Mr.. Harding concluded hi
address, Chairman Penrose OF thu
finance committee moved that the
bonus bill be recommitted to tina
committee, as urged by the execu
tive.