The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1922-04-12

! the compensation of the railroads
amounting to $500,000,000 for the
losses incurred under war administra
ton. 1t is true also Of the $4,000.
900 voted to compensate mine owners
for losses incurred merely in getting
ready to produce minerals for chem
ical warfare but without actually pro-
ducing them. It is true of the many
millions voted for the relief of Ship
ping Board contractors. If, as has
been suggested, We now incorporate
new taxes in the act adjusting the
compensation Of the veterans we shall
out precedent against the claims of
those who offered to their country,
not property, but their youth and
their lives-claims amounting to only
fraction of those already met for
property. We shall help to turn what
is intended to be and what ought to
be an expression of gratitude into a
source of criticism and disparagement
of those same veterans. This has, in
fact, already resulted from the agita-
ton Of such proposals.
But can these claims for back pay
for the veterans be adjusted without
ruin and disaster to the business in
terests and without overburdening
the taxpayers Of the country?
No Borrowing Needed.
I am confident that the necessary
revenue can be provided without fur
Their borrowing. If the results of the
recent conference for the limitation
Of ornaments are anywhere near as
substantial as we have been led to be-
lieve, the resultant economies in the
appropriations for the Army and
Navy will amount to at least $780,
100000 yearly. These are economies
that were not contemplated and taken
account of in next years budget The
War Finance Board, which, according
to present legislation, will begin liqu-
idation on July l next, has many mil
lions of Government money which will
be released. We are continually told
of new economies being accomplished
by the Budget Committee and that
there are other economies in prospect.
But even if these sources did not ex-
list, merely the interest already ac-
crued or which is annually accruing
on the British debt alone would be
sufficient to meet the soldiers claims |
I mention Great Britain specifically
because her solvency does not de-
pend to the same degree as that of
France and Italy upon PREPARATION
payments from Germany and because
the British Government has already
begun to reduce it's own domestic
debt. Within the past week, in fact,
announcement has been made that
payment of $50,000,000 lover $780,
000,000) in interest to the United
States has been arranged for in next
years British budget. In one or an
other of these ways or by combining
several Of these ways our veterans
can be compensated without increased
taxation, without increased loans, and
without even touching the principal
of the debts which are owing US. Con-
gress ought, in justice to the vet
Grams, to pass the adjusted compensa-
ton act without annexing special re-
venue measures, and it not only ought
to do so, but it can do so without
fear of serious embarrassment to the
Treasury.
Should Pay Debt.
There is another aspect of the pro-
blem which merits thoughtful atten-
ton. We can very well admit that
the debt which our Government owes
to the veterans is very like all debts
for services long since rendered. The
feelings Of many of our people toward
it are akin to our individual feelings
toward the bills of lawyers and doct-
ors for services which they may have
performed in the past. We face them
perfunctorily and with a not unnatur-
al desire to find some possible means
Of escape, but like all such obligations
long overdue, this debt, if neglected, |
will only grow more heavy with the
lapse Of time. If we leave our vet