Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-13
TEXT OF MESSAGE


Following is the text in part of
President Hardings address to the
Senate:
Mr. President and Gentlemen of the
Senate:
There has come to my attention
the pending unfinished business be-
fore the Senate and it is an impera-
tive duty to convey to YOU the prob
able effect of the passage at this time
OF the proposed act providing for ad-
justed compensation to our service
men in the world war. Ii this meas
ure could be made effective at the
present time without disaster to the
nations finances and without hind
rance to imperative REIMBURSEMENT of
our taxes it would present an entire
~ different question than that which
is before you. In a personal as well
as a public manner, which ought to
be u plight of good faith, l have COM
mendCd the policy of generous treat
mcnt of the nations defenders, not IS
Il part of any contract, not as the
paymet of debt which is owing. but
as a mark of the nations gratitude.
Every obligation is TO the disabled
and dependent. In such reference as
has been made TO general compensa-
ton there has been a reservation as
to the earliest consistent time for
such action if it is taken. Even
a modified view would be wholly JUS
tifable at the present moment, be-
cause the enactment of the compen-
sation bill in the midst of the struS
gle for REIMBURSEMENT and restoration
would hinder every effort and greatly
imperil the financial stability OF our
country More, this menacing effort
to eXpcnd billions in gratuities will
imperil our capacity to discharge our
first obligations to those we must not
fail to aid.
Our land has it's share Of the inan-
Cal chaos and the industrial depres-
sion of the world. We little needed
the growth of Indebtedness or the
limits of expenditure during the war
because we could not stop to count
the cost. Our one thought then was
the winning of the war, and the sur
Vival of the nation.
We borrowed and loaned indvid-
uals to the nation and the government
to other governments. and to those
who served the nation, with little
bought of settlement
It was relatively easy then, because
national life was at stake. In the
sober aftermath we face the order of
reason. rather than act amid the pas
sions of war, and our own land and
the world are facing problems never
solved before. There can be no solu-
ton unless we face tn grim truths
and seek to solve them in resolute
devotion to duty.
After survey of more than four
months. contemplating conditions
which would stagger all of us were
il not for our abiding faith in Ameri-
ca. | am fully persuaded that three
things are essential to the very be-
ginning of the restored order Of
things. These are the revision, in
Guiding reduction, of our internal
taxation, the refunding Of our war
debt, and the adjustment OF our
foreign loans. 1t is vitality neces-
sary to settle these problems before
adding TO our treasury any such
burden as is contemplated In the
pending bill.
1t is unthinkable to expect bust
ness revival and the resumption OF
the normal ways of peace while
maintaining the excessive taxes Of
war 1t is quite as unthinkable to
reduce our tax burdens while COM
hitting our treasury to an additional
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