The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1922-09-20
REASONS FOR vETOING
THE BONUS BILL

Washington, Sept 20.-President
Harding's message, in part, to Con-
gress, vetoing the soldiers bonus bill, |
follows:
"To the House of Representatives:
Herewith is returned without ap-
proval H. r. 10,874, a bill to provide
adjusted compensation for the vet
erans of the world war, and for other
purposes
"With the avowed purpose of the
bill to give expression of a nations
gratitude to those who served in its
defense in the world war, I am in ac-
cord, but to its provisions l do not
subscribe. The United States never
will cease to be grateful, it cannot and
never will cease giving expression to
that gratitude.
"In legislation for what is called
adjusted compensation, Congress fails,
first of all, to provide the revenue
from which the bestowal is to be paid.
Moreover, it establishes the very
dangerous precedent of creating a
treasury covenant to pay, which puts
burden, variously estimated at be-
tween four and five billions, upon the
American people, not to discharge an
obligation, which the government al
ways must pay, but to bestow bonus
which the soldiers themselves, while
serving in the world war, did not ex-
pect. 1t is not to be 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. 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 in
eficiencies and injustices, and some
distressing instances of neglect, but
they are all unintentional, and every
energy is being directed to their
earliest possible correction. In meet
ing this obligation there is no COM
plant about the heavy cost. In the
current fiscal year we are expending
$50, 100000 on disqualification and
care of sick and wounded, on compen-
sation and vocational training for the
disabled, and for insurance.
The figures do not include the more
than s35.000,000 in process of expen-
diture on hospital construction, the
estimate for the year to follow are
approximately s470.000,000 and the
figures may need to be made larger
Though the peak in disqualification
may have been passed, there is a
growth in rehabilitation, and the
discharge in full of our obligations to
the diseased, disabled or dependents
who have right to the government Is
care with liability added,
will probably reach total sum in ex-
cess of $4,000, 100000.
81 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 a material bestowal is ar
obligation to those who emerged from
the great conflict not only unharmed
but physically, mentally and spirit.
ually 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 unbecoming oul
republic. Such a bestowal to bt
worth while, must be generous ant
! without apology. Clearly the bill re
turned herewith makes cognizance o.
the inability of the government wisel!
to bestow, and says in substance, w
do not have the cash, we don't beliey'
in tax levy to meet the situation
but here is our note, you may hav
= our credit for half its worth This
! not compensation, but rather a pledg
by the Congress, while the executiv
branch of the government is left +
provide for payments falling due i
d ever increasing amounts.
x when the bill was under eonsid
Grafton in the House, I expressed th