, 1922-09-19
COMPLETE TEXT OF PRESIDENT
HARDINC'S MESSAGE ON BONUS

WASHINGTON. ser4 1s.-Prcsi-
dent Harding's bonus veto message
follows:
FART ONE.
ITO the House Of Representa-,
tives.
Herewith is returned without
approval II. r. 1854. a ball to pro
vide adjusted compensation for the
veterans Of the world war and for
other purposes
with the avowed purpose OF the
bill TO give expression Of n nations
gratitude to those who served in
it's defense IN the world war. I am
in accord, but to its provisions I do
not subscribe. The United States
eve viii cease TO be grateful a
cannot and never will cease giving
expressions to that gratitude.
I'm legislation for what Is called
adjusted compensation congress
failed. first OF all. 10 provide the
revenue from which tho bestowal Is
to % raid. Moreover. Il establishes
this r. dangerous precedent Of
creating a treasury covenant to pay
nnlCH D4Ao DaAdth NeAAoaHAs eNDE
mated between four and five mill
Ions upon the American people. moi
to discharge an obligation. which
the soldiers themselves while sery-
ing in the world war did not ex-
pect.
1T is not to be denied that the
nation has certain very binding OBJ
legations 70 those Of its defenders
who made real sacrifices In tho
world war and who left the armies
injured. disabled Of diseased 30 that
they could not resume their places
sn the normal activities of life.
These obligations are being gladly
and generously met. Perhaps there
are here and there inefficiencies
and injustices and some distressing
instances Of neglect but they arc
all -unintentionai and every effort
Is being directed to their earliest
possible correction.
TN meeting this obligation there
IL no complaint about the heavy
cost. In the current fiscal year We
are expending $50, ooo.o on hos
pitaiizaticn. and care sick and
wounded in compensation and voca.
tional training for the disabled, and
for Insurance.. The figures DO not
include the more than s35 900. 900
in process of expenditure on hospit-
al construction.
THE estimates for the year to
follow are approximately $40 .ooo.-
900 and the figures nay need to be
made larger. Though the peak in
disqualification may have passed.
there is n growth in Capitalization
end the discharge in full OF our OBJ
legations to the diseased. disabled
or dependent WHO have a right 10
the governments care. with insur-
ancc liability added. will probably
reach a total sum in excess OF $685.
900. 900 900.
..More than $4,000 veterans are
now enrolled in some of the 445 diff
ferent course In vocational train
ing. Fifty four thousand OF them
are in schools OF colleges. moro
than IS. 900 are in Industrial estab-
Iishments and a few more than g.
900 are being trainec in schools OPP
Grated by the veterans bureau.
approximately 10000 have com
pieted their courses and have en-
pIoyment in all cases where they
it. and $4,000 nave deferred for
the present time their acceptance
of training. The number eligible
under the law may reach close to
400, 900 and facilities will continue
to be afforded. unraindful of the
necessary cost until e obiiga-
ton is fulfilled.
PART TWO
Two hundred and seventy-six
thousand patients have been hos
pitalized. more than a. quarter Of a
million discharged and 25.67s pa
tents are in our hospitals today.
Four hundred and sixteen thou
sand awards Of compensation have
-