New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-13
Text Of Harding's Special Message
Urging Senate TO Hold Up Bonus Bill

are to mature in the two years imme-
diately following, and the overburden-
ing of the Treasury now means positive
disaster in the years Immediately be-
fore us. Merest prudence calls out
in warning.
''Our greatest necessity is a return
80 the normal ways of peace activities
A modest offering to the millions of
service men is a moor palliative to more
millions who may be out of employ
ment. Stabilized finance and well es-
tabllshed confidence are both essential
to restored industry and commerce
"The slump which is now upon us is
an inevitable part of wars aftermath.
1t has followed in the wake of war
since the world began. There was the
unavoidable REIMBURSEMENT, the nevi-
table charge off, the unfailing attend
ance of losses in the wake of high
prices, the memorable defation which
initiation had preceded. 1t has been
wholly proper to seek to apply govern
ment relief to minimize the hard
| ships, and the government has aided
whenever possible, and is aiding now
but all the special acts ever dreamed
of, all the particular favors ever con-
ceived will not avoid all the distresses
nor ward off all the losses.
Sincere Effort Made
TO Cut Expenditures
'The proper mental state OF our peo-
! pie will commit us rosolutely and con-
! Gdentlv to our tasks, and definite as
suy.nces as to taxation and expenditure
will contribute to that helpful mental
order The only sure way to normally
IS over the paths nature has marked
/ Throughout all human experience.
"With the approval of Congress the
executive branch of government has
been driving toward that decreased
expenditure, which Isl the most practi-
cal assurance of diminished taxation.
With enthusiastic resolution your adj
minstrative agents are making not
only conscientious effort to reduce the
call for appropriations, but to reduce
the cost Of government far below the
appropriations you have already pro-
vided. 1t is easy to believe that the
only way to diminish the burdens
which the people must pay is to cut
the outlay in which public moneys are
expended. War is not wholly responsi-
BILE for staggering costs; it has merely
accentuated the menace which lies in
mounting cost of government and ex-
cesses in expenditure which a success
full private business would not tolerate.
Il can make you no definite promise
in figures to-day, but | can pledge you
a most conscientious drive to reduce
government cost by many millions. 1t
would be most discouraging to those
who are bending their efforts to save
millions TO have Congress add billions
to our burdens at the very beginning.
Asks Delay Till Loans
Abroad Are Adjusted
even were there not the threatened
paralysis of our Treasury, with its fatal
rehexes on all our activities which
concern our prosperity, would it not be
better to await the settlement of our
foreign loans? At such a time it would
be bestowal on the part of our gov
eminent when it is able to bestow
"The United States participates in
none of the distributable awards of
war, but the world owes us heavily,
and will pay when restoration is
wrought If the restoration fails world
!, bankruptcy attends. | believe the world
restoration is possible, but only with
honest, diligent work in productivity
on the one hand and honest and dill
gent opposition to needless public ex-
penditure on the other
IF the suggested recommitm of
this measure bore the merest sugges-
ton of neglect or a hint of national in
gratitude / would not urge it. 1t has
been my privilege to speak to Congress
on our ohllgatlons TO the disabled and
dependent soldiers and the govern
ment's deep desire to prove its concern
for their welfare. l should be ashamed
of the Republic if it failed in its duty
to them. Neither armistice nor perma
nent peace puts an end to the obliga-
tons of government to its defenders
or the obligations of citizens to the
government. Mindful of these things.
the administrative branch of the gov
eminent has not only spoken; it has
acted and has ACCOMPLISHED
I'm view of some of The things which
have been said, and very carelessly
said, perhaps | ought to report official
ly some of the things which have been
done.
I'm the Department of War Risk In
: surance there have been filed up to
| July Z, 1921, compensation and insur-
ance claims numbering S13.442 Of
these 747,786 have been adiudicated. at
. an expenditure of SAT- ,946,7S2 There
l were 100000 claims pending when the
{ War Risk Department was reorganized
late in April this year, and the mum
| Der of pending claims has been reduced
by 1884. All work in this depart
ment will be current by the 21st of
this July; that is to say, all action
which the bureau may take on a given
. case will be current, though new
t claims are being fled at the rate of
1 700 day.
There have been requested Ss7.sfA
5 medical examinations, and less than
: fourteen Thousand await medical &C.
I tiep Ifr, IN Univ fharn dar1 hoa~