New-York tribune., 1922-09-20
Bonus a Dangerous 4buse OF
Public Credit, Says Harding
WASHINGTON, f9Fredent Hcrdmgs bonus ueto
o House of Representatives to-day, said:

proVal, II. X. 1dSf4, a bill TO prcxid ide
adjusted compensation for the vet
erane of the World War and for
ether purposes
With the avowed purpose Of the
biii te give expression of n nations
gratitude to those who served in its
defense in the World War, am in
accord, but to it's provisions ! do not
subscribe. The United States never
will cease to be grateful, 1t cannot
and never will cease giving express
sion to that gratitude,
'In legis slating for what is called
adjusted compensation, Congress
failed, first Of all, TO provide the
revenue from which the bcstowal is
TO be paid.
Moreover, it establishes the very
dangerous precedent Of creating a
treasury covenant TO pay which puts
burden, variousiy estimated he
tween $4,oo0000, 900 and $1,000
600, 600 upon the American people,
not to discharge an obligation, which
the government always must pay, but
to bestow bonus which the soldiers
themselves, while serving in the
World War, did not expect.
at is rot to he denied that the
nation has certain very binding obli-
cations to those Of its defenders who
made real sacrifices in the World
War and who left the armies injured,
disabled or diseased so that they
could not resume their places in the
normal activities Of l,fc, These obli-
cations arc being gladly and genor-
oCsly met. Perhaps there arc here
and there ineficiencies and injustices
and some distressing instances of
neglect, but they are ali uninten-
tional, and every energy is being di-
rected to their earliest possible corr
rection.
Expenditure Already Heavy
IN meeting this obligation there
is no complaint about the heavy cost.
In the current fiscal year we nre eX-
pending s51o, 100000 on hospitalza-
tion and care of sick and wounded,
on compensation and vocational
training for the disabled and for in
surance. The figures do not include
Of expenditure on hospital construc-
ton
The estimates for the year TO fol-
and the figures may need to be made
zation may have passed, there is a
growth in domicilizstion. and the dis
charge in full of our obligations to
the diseased, disabled, or dependent
who have q right to the governments
care, with insurance liability added,
will probably reach a total sum in
excess Of $4,000, ,000,0 900.
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 few
more than 5000 are being trained in
schools operated by the veterans
bureau.
Approximately 10000 have COM
pleted their courses and have en-
ployment in all cases where they de-
sire it, and $4,000 have deferred for
the present time their acceptance Of
training. The number eligible under
the law may reach close to 100000,
and facilities will continue to be af-
forded unmindful of the necessary
cost until every obligation is fulfilled.
1.-TWO hundred and seventy-six
thousand patients have been hospit-
alized, more than quarter Of a mil
lion discharged, and 25,67s patients
are in our hospitals to-day
-Four hundred and sixteen thou
sand awards of compensation have
been made on account of death or
disability and $480,000,000 has been
paid to disabled men or their depen-
dent relatives. One hundred and sew
enty-tive thousand disabled ex-service
men are now receiving compensation
along with medical or hospital care
where needed, and quarter Of
million checks go out monthly in
distributing the $8,000,000 payment
on indisputable obligations.
Federal Liberaiity Emphasized
II recite the figures to remind the
Congress how generously and how
properly it has opened the Treasury
doors to discharge the obligations of
the nation to those to whom it indis-
putably owes compensation and care.
Though undying gratitude is the
need of every one who served, it Is
not to be said that material bestowal
is an obligation to those who
emerged from the great conflict not
only unharmed, but physically, men
tally and spiritually richer for the
great experience. If an obligation
were to be admitted it would be to
charge the adjusted compensation
bill with inadequacy and stinginess
wholly unbocoming our Republic
Such bestowal, to be worth while,
must be generous and without apol-
ogy. Clearly the bill returned here
with takes cognizance of the inabil-
lty OF the government wisely to be-
stow and says, in substance. eve do
not have the cash, we do not believe
in tax levy to meet the situation,
out mere is our note; you may have
our credit for half its worth" This
is not compensation, but rather a
pledge by the Congress, while the ex-
tscutiYe branch of the government is
Ief' to provide for payments falling
oue IN ever increasing amounts.
W hen the bill was under consid-
Grafton in the House ] expressed the
conviction that any grant Of bonus
ought to provide the means Of paving
IT. and | was unable to suggest anv
, plan other than that of a general
sales tax. Such plan was unaccent-
able to the Congress, and Tic bi1
has been enacted without even a sur
gested means of meeting the cost. IN
deed, the cost is not definitely known
either for the immediate future or
IN the ultimate settlement. The
treasury estimates, based on what
seems the most likely exercise of the
options, figures the direct cost at an
proximateiy S145, 100000 for 1893
100000 for 1924, $114,o0O 600 for
1925 and $4,000 900 for 1925. max
tpr tnAa a1 rs