Evening journal., 1921-07-13

s57s, ASS. .s5s. and nearly four billion
of government insurance is in force.
Training and Rehabilitation
In vocational training and rehab-
ilitation of disabled soldiers there
have been enrolled to date 1o7,
men. Today there are 75,S12 men
who arc training with pay, at the.
maximum cost OF $3.50 per month;
S2OS training without pay, but at a
tuition and supply outlay of s35 per
month. Four thousand disabled
men have completed their training
and have been returned to gainful
employment. These earned an
average Of s1051 per year before en-
tering 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 $3.50
per annum.
1t is an interesting revelation and
fine achievement attended by both
abuses and triumphs. Congress has
appropriated 65,000,0o0 for this
noble work for the current year,
but the estimated acceptance OF
training for the year before us con-
templates an average OF $4,000 dis
abled men, and the cost will be in
500, 100000 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. .00O, 900
per annum, until the pledge of train
ing is discharged.
These figures suggest neither neg
lect nor ingratitude. It is more than
the entire annual cost Of Federal
government for many years follow
ing the Civil War, and challenges
every charge of failure to deal con-
siderately with our nations defend
ers. 1 do not recite the figures to
suggest that it is all we may do or
ultimately ought to do. 1t is inev-
table that our obligations will grow
and grow enormously. We never
have neglected and never will neg
lect the dependent soldier. and there
is no way to avoid times remorse-
less classfficatio
Facing Tremendous Liability
Contemplating the tremendous La
bility, which the Government will
never shirk, would be remiss in
my duty II 1 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 wal
would be the last OF our citizenship
to wish its stability menaced by ar
individual pittance of peace
know the feelings of my Owl
breast, and that Of yours and the
grateful people of this Republic. Bu
no thoughtful person. possessed with
! all the facts, is ready for added com
pensation for the healthful, self-re
liant masses of our great armies a
the cost of a Treasury breakdown
{ which will bring its hardships to al
the citizens Of the Republic Its en-
actment now in all probabilit,
y would so add to our interest rat
4 that the added interest charge Of
e new and refunded Indebtedness ma
e alone exceed the sum it is propose
to bestow.
1 War Tax Reduction Important
el When Congress was called in ez
= traordinary session called your al
e tention to the urgent measures whic
s I thought demanded your considers
ton. You promptly provided tn
e emergency tariff. and good progre'
e has been made toward the much
o needed and deliberate revision Of OF
y tariff schedules. There Is confesse
J. disappointment that so little pros
g ress has been made in the readjus
. ment and reduction Of the war-tin
u taxes. 1 believe you share with n
the earnest wish for early accon
plishment
, 1t is not expected that Congrel
n will sit and ignore other problems
legislation. There are often urgel
y problems which must enlist your a
y tendon. 1 have not come TO speak
II them, though the reorganization
the war risk and vocational trainin
~ now pending, would hasten the eff
cient discharge OF our willing oblig
n tons to the disabled soldiers.
u But 1 want TO emphasize the su
y gestion that the accomplishment
IL the major tasks for which you we
Is asked to sit in extraordinary sessi'
will have a reassuring effect or Il
Is 'entire country and speed our resum
~ ton Of normal activities and the
ne rewards which tend to make a pro
p porous and happy people.