Pueblo chieftain., 1921-07-07
NO MONEY FOR BONUS
IS MELONS WARNING

Washington. ID. c., July s.-With a
warning that there is grave danger OF
an immediate government deficit, Sec
rotary Mellon asked congress today to
defer action on the soldiers bonus bill.
This is not tim. to impose several
billion dollars Of new liabilities on an
already overburdened treasury" the
treasury secretary said to Senator Fro
linEhuysen. Republican. OF Ne. Jersey.
In letter which was read in the sem
ate when the bonus bill was called UP.
The bill has already passed to house
and the letter was in response to re-
quest from Senator Frslinghuysen for
n statement of the financial obligations
which the bill would place upon the
government
The letter was characterized by
Senator Underwood. Democratic leader.
who. after its reading made an attack
on the bill as strong, forceful and TO
the point" In passing the bill the
Alabama senator said the Republican
ma slori,y would write In the country's s
history that mon no longer sacrifice.
but measure their service in dollars"
Replying briefly. Senator McCumbcr.
Republican OF North Dakota. in charge
of the bill. denied that any attempt
was being made to measure the ser
vices of soldiers of the world war in
dollars.
Mr.. Mellon estimated that the bill
would cost the country between one
billion and one-half and Eve and one
quarter billion dollars. that Il would
swell the cost OF government and vir-
tually defeat the administrations pro-
gram of retrenchmcnt and economy
and that IL would block all refundinG
operations on the national debt and the
press further the prices on Liberty
bonds"
These he said would he inevits Bile
=
that probable indirect results would be
grave danger OF renewed initiation In
creased commodity prices and un-
settled business conditions"
All Of his estimates. the secretary
explained. were devoted merely to the
cash payment sections of the bill and
took no account Of expenses of. ad
ministration or possible cost Of afford
Ing vocational training. farm or home
aid. or land settlement aid to veterans
who elect such benefits"
should he derelict In my duty to the
II failed to give this warning Of the
inevitable financial consequences NJ
tho pending bill" hc concluded THE
result would he serious injury and loss
to the whole community and In the
long run the veterans thcmselvcsl
would lose far moro than they would
gain. I cannot bring myself to believe
that this should he adjusted comrcn-
sntion' for service that was per
formed as the highest duty of citizen
ship and sacrifice that can never he
measured in terms of money."
Not the least disturbing feature. he
continued, was the bills plan to post
pore actual distribution of funds until
next year which he said tends TO mis-
lead to the people into the belief that.
In some vay. the proposed PROGRAM
can he accomplished without imposing
a serious burden on the country"
ut must Inevitably increase the war
burden which tho people have To bear"
he continued.
1t could he financed only by addi-
tion to the burden OF debt and taxes
under which the country IL now stag
gerinr However financed no such
sum could hc taken out Of tho public
treasury without throwing a cores
nondinE load upon tho whole people in
tho form Of Increased interest charges
(Cor .lnued on Page Two)