Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-07-13
TEXT OF HARD!NG'S
SOLDIER BONUS MESS
AGE TO CONGRESS
CONTINUED from Page One.)

IOf appropriations puL " ituuSS
the cost of government far below
the appropriation you have al
ready provided. 1t is easy to be-
lieve 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 responsible for stag
gering costs; it has merely accent
uated the menace which lies in
mounting cost of government and
excuses in expenditure which
successful private business would
not tolerate.
l can make you no definite prom
Use in figures today, but 1 can
pledge you a most conscientious
dive to reduce government cost by
many millions. 1t would be most
discouraging to those who are
bending their energies to save mil
lions to have congress add billions
to our burdens at the very begin
ming.
Settlement of Foreign Loans.
Even were not the threatened
paralysis of our treasury with its
fatal refleXes on all our activities
which concern our prosperity,
would it not be better to await the
settlement of our foreign loans?
At such q time it would be a be-
stowal on the part of our govern
ment when 1t is able to bestow.
The United States participates in
none of the distributable awards
of the war. but the world owes us
heavily. and will pay when restor-
alton is wrought. If the restora-
ton fails world bankruptcy at
tends. l believe the world restora-
ton is possible. but only with
| honest, diligent work in produce
! tivity on the one hand and honest
and diligent opposition to needless
public expenditures on the other.
If the suggested recommittment
of this measure bore the merest
suggestion of neglect or hint of
national ingratitude, ! would not
Urge it. 1t has been my privilege
to speak to congress on our oblir
| cations to the disabled and depend
ent soldiers and the governments
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 ar
mistice nor permanent peace puts
an end to the obligation of govern
ment to its defenders or the obi-
cations Of citizens to the govern
ment. Mindful of these things, the
administrative branch of the gov
eminent has not only spoken-it
has acted and has accomplished.
Some Accomplishments.
In view of some of the things
which have been said, and very
carelessly said, perhaps l ought to
report officially some of the things
which have been done. In the de-
partment of war risk insurance
| there have been filed up to July L.
1921. compensation and insurance
claims numbering S12.442. or
these 747,7S6 have been adjudl5
Gated at an expenditure of SAIL
946,762. There were 100000 claims
pending when the war risk depart
ment was organized. late in April
this year, and the number of pend
ing claims has been reduced by
1884, All work in this depart
lment will be. current by the 2lst
Iibf this tJulY-that is to say. az
| action which the bureau may take
on a given case will be current
though new claims are being flled
at the rate of 700 per day.
Medical Examinations.
i There have been requested
I S67,614 medical examinations ana
less than $4,000 await medical
action, Up to July there have
been 26,237 disabled soldiers hos
pitalized, and in government con-
trolled hospitals today there are
!. 600 available beds without occu--
nants. You are already aware OF
the progress made toward the con-
struction of additional government
hospitals, not because we are not
meeting all demands, but to better
meet them and the better 10 sPe.
cialize in the treatment OF lhoSe
who come under our care. =,
Vhere has been paid out IN az
| lowances the sum of $51S,4oo,ooo
and nearly four billion of govern
ment insurance Is in force.
In vocational training ana re-
habilitation of disabled soldiers
there have been enrolled to date
1924 men. Today there are To-
8i2 men who are training with
nav. at the maximum cost OF $lb0
per month; S,20S training without
ont nav. but at a tuition and sup
nlv outlay Of $35 per month. -Four
thousand disabled men have COM
Melted their training and nave
been returned to gainful employ.
ment. These earned an average OF
s1.O51 per year before entering
the army and are earning To-Day IN
spite of their war disability ana III
spite Of diminished wage or sal
airy levels, an average of $l,5oo per
annum.
1t is an interesting revelation and
a fine achievement, attended by
both abuses and triumphs. Com
gress has appropriated S65, OO0,00o
for this noble, work for the cur
rent year, but the estimated ac-
ceptance Of training for the year
before us contemplates an average
of $4,000 disabled men, and the
cost will be in excess of $16S,0O0,-
600 or nearly a hundred million
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
100000 per annum until the
pledge of training is discharged
These figures suggest neither ne
elect nor ingratitude. 1t is more
than the entire annual cost of fed
eral government for many years
following the civil war and chal-