Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1922-09-19
farding Vetoes Bonus Bill for War Veterans
President States
Congress Failed to
PTOUide Revenues

ny 1IGSlQ0ltL f1aTQlH2.
In returning the measure to
congress without his approval, the
executive, in a message to the
house, declared that he was in ac-
cord with the avowed purposes of
the bill, but that he could not sub
scribe to its provisions.
Outlining his reasons for the
veto the president said that con-
gress had failed first of all, to pro-
vide the revenue from which the
bestowal was to be paid. He add
ed that the ultimate cost could not
be estimated definitely, but that
the treasury figured the total at
$3.50, 100000 for the first four
years with final charge in ex-
cess of $4,000, 100000.
Mr.. Harding told congress the
proposed service certificates sub
stiuted for the original cash pay
ment would constitute borrowing
ION the nations credit just as tru-
ly as though the loans were made
by direct government borrowing.
He added that this involves a
dangerous abuse Of public cred
it,"
The executive declared that it
was essential "to remember that
more than $4,000, 100000 pledge
to able service men would not dim
inish the later obligation, which
the veterans contributed to the
rolls of the aged, INDECENT and
dependent" This obligation, he
said, would cost more billions
than l venture to suggest.
In the house where the leaders
say more than the necessary two
thirds viii vote to pass the bill
over the presidents veto a roll call
was postponed until tomorrow
noon on the motion Of Representa-
tive Mondell of Wyoming, the re-
publican leader.
The president said in part;
''It is worth remembering that
the public credit is founded on the
popular belief in the defensibility
Of the public expenditure as well
as the governments ability to pay.
Loans come from every rank in
life, and our heavy tax burdens
reach, directly or indirectly, every
elemtn in our citizenship. To add
one one-sixth of the total sum OF
our public degt for distribution
among less than five millions out
Of one hundred and ten millions,
whether inspired by grateful SEN
timent or political expediency,
would undermine the confidence
on which our credit is builded,
and establish the precedent of dis
tributing public funds whenever
the proposal and the numbers af-
fected make it seem politically ap-
pealing to do so.
'It is some times thoughtlessly
urged that it is a simple thing for
the rich republic to add four bill
lions to it's indebtedness. This i'm
preston comes from the readsness
of the public response TO the gov
ernment's appeal for funds amlc
the stress or war. 1t is to be re-
membered that in the war every
body was ready to give his all.
Let us not recall the comparative
ly few exceptions. Persons OF ev-
cry degree of competence loaned
and sacrificed, precisely in the
same spirit that our armed forces
went out for service. The war
spirit impelled. To war neees-
sity there was but one answer, but
a peace bestowaI on the ex-service
men, as though the supreme Of
fering could be paid for with cash,
is a perversion Of public funds,
reversal of the policy which exalt-
ed public service in the past, ana
suggests that future defense is TO
be inspired by compensation ra-
ther than consciousness of duty TO
flag and country.
''The pressing proDlsm u INC
is that Of diminishing
our burdens, rather than adding
thereto. 1t is the problem OF the
world.
War innations and expendi-
lures have unbalanced budgets
and added to indebtedness until
the whole world is staggering un-
der the load. We have been driv-
ing in every direction to eurtail our
expenditures. It has been diff
rieult and unpopular task 1t is
rastIy more applaused to expend
han to deny"
s A Fulton and his wife had :
iarrow escape from death when FIRE &
destroyed their home at Turner re- q
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