New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-09-24
Miller Tells
" eteransB Bonus
Can't Be Paid
Would Mean Additional Tax
Industries Cannot Bear
Now, Governor Says
at L e gion Convention
Applause Creets Speech
Executive Refutes Charge
State Made a Profit
on Men in Hospitals
From a STAFF Correspondent.

Iovernor Miller appeared before the
state convention Of the American
Legion here to-day and once again out
lined his policy on the issues for which
war veterans have been campaigning
for many months.
In his discussion of the bonus, which
recently was declared unconstitutional
by the state Court of Appeals, Governor
Miller pointed out to the delegates that
to attempt to bring about the payment
OF this emolument at this time would
mean an additional taxation on the in
dustries of the state, which could i'll
afford such an assessment.
An extra session of the Legislature,
for which Legionnaires have been
clamoring for many weeks, Governor
Miller reminded the convention, would
require an expenditure of several mil
lion dollars.
Governor Miller was received with
demonstration lasting several minutes.
His address Was frequently interrupted
by applause. The Governor said
Tells Facts of Hospitals
4Tirst, | want to remove some of
tho misunderstanding that have been
created in this state in reference to
the care of the service men in the state
hospitals. | say Misunderstanding
do not mean by that word to imply
Z that intentional misunderstanding
have been created, because people may
easily be misled from surface indica-
tons.
ut was being said few weeks ago
that the state got So a day per man
from the Federal government, and that
the average cost of maintaining man
was 90 cents, or whereabouts. So it
looked on the surface that the state
was making $1.10 out OF the service
man. That ought to have aroused in
dignation If it was true. What were
the facts? That was figure given
out every year by the hospital commits
sion for the out-of-pocket expenses; I
mean immediate payments out of the
treasury for personal service, for
light
1T included nothing whatever of the
capital expense, the interest and the
large investment to house the people
in the hospitals, nothing whatever of
the depreciation of these institutions.
"The average cost was s1.35, and not
80 cents. Now, / say average. You
men doubtless know that more than rs
per cent of the people in the state hos
pitfalls are chronic cases, for whom you
can do nothing except to give custodial
charge. The other 25 per cent you
have to incur large outlay for, because
they receive scientific treatment. So
the average does not tell the story.
Inquired After Veterans
II have visited and carefully looked
thu condition IF ho
In the state hospitals and what the
state was doing for them. l say
to you that any man who has worn
the Uniform of the United States, who
is now afflicted from whatever cause,
care not, is entitled to receive from the
public every effort, every care that will
afford him every possible relief and
comfort that he can receive.
Now, it was said that the service
men in the state hospital were neglect
ed. want most emphatically to assert
that that is not true. The service men
IN the hospitals of this state are not
being neglected. They are receiving
the very best care, the very best food,
the very best attention and the most
, scientific treatment that it is possible
to give them.
2The state will not, men, build a
military hospital. 1t would not be
justified in doing so. It would inter
1ere most seriously with our hospital
development scheme to do it. But the
state will put forth its utmost effort
20 see that the service man suffering
from mental affection shall receive
every care, every bit OF medical and
scientific treatment and attention it is
possible to give him.
'Now, with reference to the bonus
Our people voted by an overwhelming
majority to issue $45, 00O, 900 bonds to
give our boys slight recognition for
the services which they had rendered
this country and to mankind. / don't
say as compensation You did not fight
TOR compensation.
1t is not question of deferred com
pensation. 1t is question of just
recognition, which does not compensate
and cannot compensate.
The court has spoken. and that is
the final word and is the law on the
subject. You nc doubt were dsap-
pointed, as was disappointed.
Taxed to Limit Already
sit will not be possible to pay the bonus
out Of the treasury and carry on the
other operations of the government
without in some way seeking additional
revenues. That must be plain to every
body who reasons. Additional revenues
Will be required if we are to make
direct payment of the bonus. From
what source can those revenues be
derived? One source would be an in
crease in direct taxes. | say to you
boys that real estate in this state is
already taxed to the very limit of
business possibility.
There is one other source which
probably would be the first one any
body would think of--increase the per-
Eonal income tax. You would have to
mere than double the present state in
bonus. ~ s''~
One Of the things from which YOU
and everybody else is suffering is bust
ness stagnation. due in part to exces-
ave taxation. know that men are out
o. employment. That is one of the
serious problems that is Confronting
us. It is not time for increasing the
onfuens OF taxation which is now TAX
ang capital from industry which would
otperwlse be furnishing emplovment to
men who are now walking the streets
on are interested, first of all in a
TeVlVai OF business-that is the thine
.nas your permanent prosperity will
cepend upon. A $40 q month service
nonus Will relatively be of little heln
70 you as compared to the harm Is
would do all of the people of this state
by adding to the burden of tsyat;on
under our present conditions.
mere is one other thing that does
~f Il ryrx,