The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-07-12

ity and in spite of diminished wage
or salary levels, an average of
1850 per annum.
1t is an interesting revelation
and a fine achievement, attended by
both abuses and triumphs. Con-
gress has appropriated $65,00O,OOO
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, 100000, or nearly
a hundred million more than con-
gress has provided. This addition
al sum must be made available.
With the increase of availability to
training, as recently urged upon
congress, the estimated additional
expenditure will be $468, 100000 per
annum, until the pledge of training
is discharged. These figures Sug-
gest neither neglect nor ingrati-
tuGe. 1t is more than the entire
annual cost of federal government
for many years following the Civil
war and challenges every charge of
failure to deal considerably with
our nations defenders. l do not
recite the figures to suggest that it
Is all we may do, or ultimately
ought to do 1t is inevitable that
our obligations will grow, and grow
enormously We never have neg
lected and never will neglect the
dependent soldier, and there is no
way to avoid Times remorseless
classifications.
No "Pittance of Peace.
Contemplating the tremendous
liability which the government will
never shirk. would be reniiss in
my duty if l failed to ask congress
to pause at this particular time,
rather than break down our treas
ury from which so much is later
on to be expected. The defenders
of the republic amid the perils OF
war would be the last of our citi-
zenship to wish its stability men
aced by an individual pittance of
peace.
| know the feelings of my own
breast, and that of yours and the
grateful people of this republic.
But no thoughtful person, possess
ed with all the facts. is ready for
added compensation for the health
full, self-reliant masses of our great
armies at the cost of a treasury
breakdown which will bring its
hardships to all the citizens of the
republic. Its enactment now, in
all probability, would so add to our
interest rates that the added inter
est charge on new and refunded
Indebtedness may alone exceed the
sum it is proposed to bestow.
Progress on Tariff.
When congress was called in ex-
traordinary session l called your
attention to the urgent measures
which I thought demanded your
consideration. You promptly pro
vided the emergency tariff, and
good progress has been made to-
ward the much needed and more
deliberate revision of our tariff
schedules. There is confessedly
disappointment that so little prog
ress has been made in the readjust-
ment and reduction of the war
time taxes. l believe you share
with me the earnest wish for early
accomplishment.
II is not expected that congress
will sit and ignore other problems
of legislation. There are often ur-
gent problems which must enlist
your attention I've not come to
speak of them, though the reorgan-
iZation of the war risk and voca-
tional training. now bending. would
hasten the efficient discharge OF
our willing obligations to the dis
abled soldiers.
But l want to emphasize the
suggestion that the accomplish
ment of the major tasks for which |
YOU were asked to sit in extraor-
binary session will have a reassur-
ing effect on the entire country and |
speed our resumption of normal
activities and their rewards which |
tend to make a prosperous and |
hanpy people.