New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-13

ana In government-control hospitals
eo-day there are 5000 available beds
without occupants. You are alreadv
aware of the progress made toward
the construction of additional govern
meht hospitals, not because we are NOT
meeting all demands, but to better
meet them and the better to special-
ize In the treatment of those who come
under our care.
There has been paid out in a1Iot-
ments and allowances the sum Of
$o'S,465,65S, and nearly $4,000 900 900
OF government insurance is in force.
Training Costs Will
Exceed $163,000,0o0
I'm vocational training and rehabili-
tation of disabled soldiers there hava
been enrolled to date 1O7,S24 men To-
day there are 1882 mon who are
training with pay, at the maximum
cost of $3.50 per month; S.20S training
without pay, but at a tuition and sup
ply outlay of $35 per month. Four
Thousand disabled men have completed
their training and have been returned
to gainful employment. These earned
an average of $1,o51 per year before
entering the army and are earning to-
day, in spite of their war disability
and in spite of diminished wage or
salary levels, an average Of 81 $50 per
annum.
at is an interesting revelation and
fine achievement. attended by both
abuses and triumphs. Congress has
appropriated S65,0O0,000 for this noble
work for the current year, but the
estimated acceptance of training for
the year before US contemplates an
average of $4,000 disabled men, and
the cost will be in excess of $163, 000,-
900, or nearly $100,000,000 more than
Congress has provided. This additional
sum must be made available. With the
| increase of availability to training,
as recently urged upon Congress, the
estimated additional expenditure will
be s46S 200 per annum until the
pledge of training is discharged. These
figures suggest neither neglect nor
ingratitude. 1t is more than the en-
tire annual cost of the Federal gov
eminent for many years following the
Civil War and challenges every charge
of failure to deal considerably with
our nations defenders.
Growth of Obligations
Declared Inevitable
81 do not recite the figures to sug-
gest that it is all we may do or
ultimately ought to do 1t is inevi-
table that our obligations will grow,
and grow enormously. We never nave
neglected and never will neglect the
dependent soldier, and there is no way
to avoid times remorseless classlhca-
tions.
contemplating the tremendous liza
bilitv, which the government will never
shirk. | would be remiss in my duty II
I failed to ask Congress to pause at
this particular time rather than break
down our Treasury, from which 80
much is later on to be expected. Inc
defenders of the Republic amid the
nerils of war would be the last OF our
citizenship to wish it's stability men
aced by an individual pittance of peace,
~ know the feelings of my own
breast and that of yours and the CRATE
full people of this Republic; But no
thoughtful person, possessed with all
the facts. is ready for added compen-
sation for the healthful, self-reliant
masses of our great armies at the cost
of Treasury break down which will
bring it's hardships to all the citizens
of the Republic It's enactment now in
all probability would so add to our in
terest rates that the added interest
charge on new and refunded indebted
ness may alone exceed the sum it is
proposed to bestoW.
Progress Made in
Revision of Tariff
"When Congress was called in ex-
traordinary session | called your atten-
ton to the urgent measures which l
thought demanded your consideration.
You promptly provided the emergency
tariff, and good progress has been made
toward the much needed and more de-
liberate revision of our tariff sched-
ules. There is confessed disappoint-
ment that so little progress has been
made in the readjustment and reduc-
ton of the wartime taxes. | believe
you share with me the earnest wish
for early omplishment.
at is not expected that Congress
will sit and ignore other problems of
legislation There are often urgent
problems which must enlist your at
tention. | have not come to speak of
them, though the reorganization of
the war risk and vocational training,
now pending. would hasten the efficient
discharge of our willing obligations to
the disabled soldiers.
But | want to emphasize the sug-
gestion that the accomplishment of the
major tasks for which you were asked
to sit in extraordinary session will
have a reassuring effect on the entire
country, and speed our resumption of
normal activities and their rewards
which tend to make prosperous and
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