Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-09-20
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could not resume their places in the
normal activities Of life. These OBJ
legations are being gladly and gen.
erously met. Perhaps.there are here
and there inefficiencies and injustices,
and some distressing instances of
neglect, but they all are unintentional.
and every energy is being directed
to their earliest possible correction.
No Complaint Of Cost
I'm meeting this obligation there
is no complaint about the heavy cost.
In the current fiscal year we are ex
pending $510,000.00O on hospitaliza-
ton and care Of sick and wounded.
on compensation and vocational
training for the disabled and for in
surancc. The figures do not include
the more than $4,000. 900 in process
Of expenditure on hospital construc-
ton.
THE estimates for the year to fol-
low are approximately $47O,00O,OOO.
and the figures may need to be made
larger. Though the peak in hospitali-
cation may have passed, there is a
growth in Capitalization and the dis
charge in full Of our obligations, to
the diseased, disabled or dependent
who have a right to the governments
care, with insurance liability added,
will probably reach a total sum in
excess of $4,000, 100000.
Many in Schools
More than $4,000 veterans are now
enrolled in some Of the 445 different
courses in vocational training. Fifty
four thousand of them are in schools.
or colleges, more than $4,000 are in
industrial establishments, and a few
more than 5000 are being trained in
schools operated by the Veterans
! Bureau.
approximately nineteen thousand
have completed their courses and
have employment in all cases where
| they desire it, and $4,000 have de-
ferred for the present time, their
! acceptance of training. The num-
Der eligible under the law may
reach close to 100000 and facilities
will continue to be afforded, unmind-
full of the necessary cost until every
obligation is fulfilled.
1.-TWO hundred and seventysix
thousand patients have been hos
pitalZed, more than a quarter of a
million discharged and 25,67S patients
! are in our hospitals today.
Compensation Awards
-Four hundred and sixteen thous-
and awards of compensation have
| been made on account OF death or
disability and $3.50, 100000 have been
paid to disabled men or their de-
pendent relatives. One hundred and
seventy-five thousand disabled ex-
service men are now receiving com
pensation along with medical or hos
pital care where needed, and a quar-
ter of million checks go out
monthly in distributing the eight
million dollar payment on indisput-
able obligations.
| Il recite the figures to remind the
| Congress how generously and how
| properly it has opened the treasury
|
the nation to those whom it indsput-
ably owes compensation and care
Though undying gratitude is the
| need Of everyone who served, it is
not to be said that a material, be-
| stOwal is an obligation to those who
emerged from the great conflict I'M
harmed, but physically, mentally and
! spiritually richer for the great eX-
perience. If an obligation were to be
admitted. it would be to charge the
adjusted compensation bill with in
! adequacy and stinginess wholly un-
| becoming our republic. Such a be-
| stowal, TO be worth while, must be
generous and without apology, clearly
the bill returned herewith takes cog
| niZance of the inability of the gov
eminent wisely to bestow, and says
| in substance we do not have the
| cash, we do not believe in a tax levy
| to meet the situation, but here is our
/ note, you may have our credit for
| half it's worth This is not compen-
| sation, but rather a pledge by the
! Congress, while the executive branch
of the government is left to provide
for payments falling due in ever in
| creasing amounts.
"When the bill was under consider
alton in the House. I expressed the
conviction that any grant of bonus
ought to provide the means of paying
| it, and I was unable to suggest any
! plan other than that OF general
| sales tax. Such a plan was unac-
ceptable to the Congress. and the bill
has been enacted without even a sug-
gested means of meeting the cost
! Indeed, the cost is not definitely
| known, either for the immediate flu
! ture. or in the ultimate settlement
The treasury estimates, based or
what seems the most likely exercise
of the options. figures the direct cost
at approximately Sl45,000,000 foi
1929 S225, 100000 for 1924; STA
100000 for 1925: s312,000,000 for
| 1926. making a total of s795, 100000
i: for the first four years of its opera
| ton and total cost in excess Of S4,-
| 600. 100000. No estimate Of the large
/, indirect cost has ever been made
! the certificate plan sets up no re-
serve against the ultimate liability;
! the plan avoids any considerable di-
rect outlay by the government dur
ing the earlier years of the bills pro-
posed operations, but the loans on