Evening star., 1922-09-19
Returns Measure to
House, Giving His
Objections.
NO MEANS FIXED
OF MEETING COSTS
S48O,OOO,OOO Already
Awarded, He Says, Cites
Years Huge Deficit.

Years Huge Deficit.
The bonus bill, providing adjusted
compensation for the veterans OF
the world war, was vetoed by Presi-
dent Harding today. He returned
the bill to the House of Representa-
tives at AS this afternoon, and with
it was statement in which he made
known his reasons for disapproving
this legislation. The veto message
follows:
Gratitude to Men.
To the House of Representatives.:
Herewith Is returned, without ap-
proval H. r. 1854. bill "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 a nations graft
tude to those who served in it's de-
fense in the world war, I am in ac-
cord. but to its provisions I do not
subscribe. The United States never
will cease to be grateful, it cannot
and never will cease giving express
sion to that gratitude.
In legislAting for what is called ad-
justed compensation Congress fails,
first OF all, to provide the revenue
from which the bestowal is to be
paid. Moreover, 1t establishes the
very dangerous precedent of Great
ing Treasury covenant to pay which
puts q burden. variously estimated
between four and Ave billions. upon
the American people, not to discharge
an Obligation, which the gov9rnment
always must Day. but to bestow q
bonus which the soldiers themselves,
while serving in the worifswar, did
not expect - fG's i
It ID not to be denied that the na-
ton has certain very binding oblisa-
made real sacrifices in the world war,
and who left tho armies injured. dis
abled or diseased, SO that they could
not resume their places in the normal
activities Of life. These obligations
are being gladly and generously met.
Perhaps there are here and there
Inen1ciencies and injustices and some
distressing instances Of neglect, but
they are all unintentional, and ev-
cry energy is being directed to their
earliest possible correction. In
meeting this obligation there is no
complaint about the heavy cost. In
the current fiscal year we are ex-
pending s51o.o0o,oeo on hospitaliza-
tion and care OF sick and wounded,
on compensation and vocational
training for the disabled, and for in
surance The figures do not include
the moro than $35.ooo.00o in process
of expenditure on hospital construc-
tion. -
The estimates for the year to follow
are approximately S47e,0oo.000, and the
figures may nesd to be made larger.
Though the peak in hospitalization may
have passed, there is a growth In
aiomicilization. and the discharge in
full OF our obligations to the diseased.
disabled or dependent who have right
10 tho governments care. with insur,
ance-liability added, will probably
reach a total sum in excess Of $25.000,-
5000.
vast Vocational Training.
More than $4,000 veterans are now
enrolled in some Of the AS different
ynSn
four thousand Of them are in schools or
colleges, more than $4,000 are in in
dustrial establishments, and a few moro
than 5000 are being trained in schools
operated by the Veterans Bureau.
Approximately $4,000 have completed
their courses and have employment in
all cases where they. desire 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 afforded, unmindful Of
the necessary cost. until every obliga-
1ion is fulfilled.
Two hundred and seventy-six thou
sand patients have been hospitalized.
moro than a quarter Of q million dis
charged and a5,s7s patients are in our
hospitals TO-DAY.
Four hundred and sixteen thousand
awards Of compensation have been
made on account Of death or disability.
and $3.50 900 have been paid ID dis
abled men or their dependent relatives.
One hundred and seventy-dve thousand
disabled ex-service men are now re-
ceiving compensation along with medi-
gal or hospital care where needed, and
= quarter Of . million checks 60 out
monthly in distributing the eisht-mil-
tion-dollar payment on tndisputable
obligations.
I recite the figures to remind the
congress how generously and how
properly it has opened the Treasury
doors to discharge the obligations Of
she nation to those to whom It indis-
hutabIy owes compensation and care
Though undying gratitude 10 the NEED
Of every, one who served, It IL not to
be said that material bestowal is
an obligation to those who emerged
from the great conflict not only un-
harmed. but physically, mentally and
spiritually richer for the great ,exps-
1iencs. II an obligation were TO be
admitted. 1t would be to charge the
adjusted compensation hill with In
?.