Evening journal., 1921-03-21

do both. II is becoming clear that
the burden which would be thrown
upon the taxpayers. II both were
passed. will result in side tracking
one Of these two classes Of legisla-
ton.
No citizen needs to be told that
the burden on his earnings. his
property and his business is a heavy
burden. This same opinion is held
by David f. Houston. Secretary Of the
Treasury; in fact. he is not entirely
convinced that the country can meet
its present financial obligations.
Il have not given specific thought
to the collection OF new revenue to
meet new obligations" he said re-
Gently. II have devoted myself to
problems OF meeting existing gov
ernmental disbursements from rev.
enue which promises TO decrease"
He was being questioned at the
time by members OF the Senate Com
mittee on Finance as to the worth
OF the provisions in the bonus bill
for collecting taxes to pay the bonus.
on this point he was emphatic.
"Unlcss every unnecessary ex-
penditure. such as the proposed ap-
preparation for payment OF soldier
bonuses be avoided" he said. "un-
| less every official estimate or request
| for appropriation be reduced to a
minimum. no sound plan for tax
[ revision can be carried out, and the
successful financial conduct Of the
/ Government during the next three
years will be seriously imperiled."
| Congress has Needed his warn
| ing to the extent Of pairing, $1,000
600 from the official estimates of
/ $50 900. 600 for the hospital treat
ment OF disabled soldiers during the
next fiscal year II that was neces-
sarv then a bonus is unthinkable.
And. IL reason and justice prevail
that is exactly what the decision
must be as to a bonus-unthinkable
The country must pay a tremendous
price for the present and future
care Of the disabled, and the aoillty
Of the country to pay cannot be
jeopardized by the distribution OF
several billions OF dollars 10 their
more fortunate comrades. Last year
5000. 900 was appropriated Tor
the care OF the disabled. This year
estimates call for an appropriation
Of SAGA. 100000. Next year we may
expect still greater demands. The
experience Of the Civil War shows
that nearly twenty-five years elapsed
before the greatest number OF dis
ahled came to the attention OF the
Government. SO today the wise
and inst way to deal with the prob
lem Of the disabled is TO keep before
ms the picture Of the long road that
must be Travelled and the mounting
price that we must pay.
More than $4,000 veterans are In
lhospitals today. Three months ago
approximately 10000 were in hos
nitals. which means that the num-
ber OF veterans requiring hospital
treatment has been increasing az
the rate OF more than 1000 month.
on this basis we may soon expect 10
find more than 10000 receiving
, treatment for tuberculosis. mental
diseases and for disabilities result
ing from old wounds. II is neces-
sary to go into the background, how
r ever. to realize fully the possible
development OF the problem Of car
ing for the disabled. There is some
difference in official reports as "a
! the number Of men discharged from
service with disabilities. II is var
b liousIy placed at 513,5OO and Gal, 500
Z hut in either case the figures are
e significant, for each one of these
4 men is a possible future patient ol
the Government. Among the 24,OOS
r men in hospitals today, there ar'
$3.50 so-oalled sheI-shock victims
, but the number OF men discharged
from service with disabilities OF I
. nervous or mental character wa
= 1855. There are in hospitals TO
i, day 1884 tuberculosis patients. vic
!, tins OF gas and exposure, but tn
number OF men discharged from
service with tuberculosis was 46,210
Available figures show that approx
7 imately $4,000 disabled men ar
y now receiving vocational training
9 but al a very conservative estimat
more than 10000 are eleEible 10
? such training. and IL certain regu
n latlons governing vocational train
n ing are liberalized. as the Join
e Committee has recommended, W
d may expect an increase in the mum
r Der OF applicants.
j. With such figures for considera
q ton It is evident that we have don
= little more than scratch the surfac
+ Of the problem. And Il Is sue
d figures as these. and such tragi
/. incidents as the suicide OF the vet
e eran, which have caused the Join
e Committee 70 stand uncompromis
e. ingly for the principle OF preferentia
Il treatment OF the disabled. Will