The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1922-03-23
erty. We shall help to turn


what is intended to be, and what
ought to be, an expression Of glati.
tude, into a source of criticism anC
disparagement Of those same veter.
ans. This has, in fact, already re.
suited from the agitation of such
proposals.
But can these claims for back pay
for the veterans be adjusted with.
out ruin and disaster to the business
interests, and without over burden.
ing the taxpayers OF the country?
l am confident that the necessary
revenue can be provided without fur
ther borrowing. If the results OF
the recent conference for tie limi-
teton of ornaments are anywhere
near as substantial as we have been
led to believe, the resultant econo-
mics in the appropriations for the
army and navy will amount to at
least s200,000,000 yearly. These are
economies that were rot contennplat-
ed and taken account of in next
years budget. The wa finance board
which, according to present legisla-
tion, will begin liquidation on July
first next, has many millions of gov
Light on Bonus Question continued
ernment money which will be releas-
ed. We are continually told of new
economies being accomplished by the
budget committee; and that there arc
other economies in prospect. But
even if these sources did not exist,
merely the interest already accrued,
or which is annually accruing on the
British debt, alone would be suffi-
cient to meet the soldiers claims,
l mention Great Britain specifcal-
ly, because her solvency does not de-
pend to the same degree as that of
France and Italy upon reparation
payments from Germany, and because
the British government has already
begun to reduce its own domestic
debt. Within the past week, in fact,
announcement has been made that
payment of 5O,OOO,0O0 pounds lover
S2OO, ,000,000) in interest to the Unit
ed States has been arranged for in
next years British budget. In one
OF another Of these ways, our COM
bining several of these ways, our
veterans can be compensated with
out increased taxation, without in
creased loans, and without even touch
ing the principal of the debts which
are owing US. Congress ought, in
justice to the veterans, to pass the
adjusted compensation act without an
nexing special revenue measures, and
it not only ought to do so, but it
can do so without fear Of serious
embarrassment to the treasury.
There is another aspect Of the
problem which merits thoughtful at
tcntion. We can very we'll admit
that the debt which our government
owes the veterans is very like all
debts for services long since render
ed. The feelings of many Of our
people toward it are akind ct our
individual feelings toward the bills
OF LAWYERS and doctors fer services
which they may have performed IN
the past. We face them pelfunctorl-
ly, and with a not unn:tural desire
to find some possible means OF es-
cape, but like all such obligations
long overdue, this debt, # neglected,
will only grow more heavy with the
lapse of time. If we leave our veter-
ems with this obligation unsettled,
and with the feeling that the coun-
try has dealt unjustly with them, their
restlessness may grow not only more
insistent, but more extensive with the
passage of the years. Let those who
selfishly and shortsightedly oppose
the settlement today take warning.
Ii this debt is not settled now, in
time, instead of pushing the present
claim for back pay, the effort may
be made to revive the cxtravagant,
rauch abused, ard unsatisfsct ry sys-
tenn of general service pensions, which
it has been the worthy purpose OF
cur war risk insurance ard our COM
pcnsation acts 10 forestail and avoid.
T. is not only fair and just, but Il
will be much more economical in the
long run to settle the obligation now.
We sanction disqualification end train
i,;g for our disabled veterans. We
have provided aid for the dependents
of our dead. We have adjusted the
compensation of our war contractors
to the tune of s3,O00,000.0OO under
the Dent Act. We have adjusted the
compensation of the railroads to the
extent of s5OO,0OO,OOO. We have set