New-York tribune., 1922-02-14
Aid for Disabled Soldier

Aid for Disabled Soldier
Emphasizing the idea that tho dis
seled veterans must be adequately pro-
vided for, Senator Borah declared that
the enactment Of the bonus bill would
impair the ability of the government
properly to care for the disabled.
"The disabled soldier" said the Sem
of the citizens and is entitled to re-
ceive and will receive the gracious con-
aideration Of his government at oil
times"
He asked what tho obligation was
the government was taking on itself
for the disabled soldier. Setting forth
the fact that in FIVE years the govern
ment has appropriated total of ST.
175,0o0,0o0 for the disabled soldiers,
e.ed for that purpose this year.
II think it very conservative figure
60 say we will appropriate s5C0.000, 600
this year to take care of the disabled
aoldiers," said tho Senator. This is
emily the beginning. This amount will
continue TO grow very rapidly for the
next thirty years. I venture to say
that In ten years from now we will be
nppropriating $1,000 100000 year for
the disabled. No one complains OF the
payments to the disabled Soldier, and /
hility that will be put upon u.s."
Billions Coming In Pensions
Going back to the end Of the Civil
War, he traced the rapid increase in
pensions until in 1921, fifty-six years
after the war. they totaled S279 9,0o0,
900. Taking these figures as q basis,
he declared that the country before it
had discharged It's obligations to the
disabled soldiers Of the World War
would pay them total Of $75,coo,oo0,-
900, and added that somo experts put
the total at 500. 1000 100000.
He maintained, moreover, that IN
spite Of what is being done for the
disabled soldier, more ought TO be
done, and he insisted that the country
could not do it's duty by the disabled
and yet impose additional taxes on the the
people to moet the requirements Of the
bonus bill.
Does any one doubt" he asked,
"that il we impose on the taxpayers
an additional burden OF $500, 900 600
60 IS. 600, ,00O. .Oo0 1t will have q tremend
Gus effect in crippling the government
IN meeting its obligations 60 The dis
abled soldiers?"
Senator borah recounted the words
os President Harding In opposing the
passage Of the bonuo bill last summer
changed for the better since then in
sueh q way as to warrant the proposed
legislation.
Senator Jones, OF New Mexico, Demo
c-st, who asked number CT questions,
wanted to know whether Senator Borah
considered the bonus "a eratuity.'
"I would rather view 1t as g grasuity
than Is compensation" said Senator
Sorah. ''Talk about compen sation, ad-
justed ensation-adjusted to what
standard? Your stable boy, the un-
fortunate woman who scrubs the Hoor
of the Capitol receives moro money
than you're willing to pay to She Tsn
who risked his life. I would infinitely
rather call it gretuity than TO insult
the soldier by telling him that he was
1ot worth more than the charwoman
Tho scrubs the Capitol steps"
Reviewing industrial conditions, he
came to the conclusion that "condi-
lions are far worse In the country as
"A whole than they were six or eight
months ago"
Predicts $780, 600 Deficit
He quoted from Secretary Mellon's
recent statements to show conditions
had rot improved and that the Treas
ntor Borah predicted the deficit would
be s5oo,000,O00
"It's very serious thing" went on
t.lc Senator, when che people are bear
:ng about all they can bear in the wsy
oP tax burdens to say that VIC EusS
increase the burden.
"The taxpayer of the country is car
Yying about all he can carry and, what
10 Of more Importance, l suggest that
his patience Is being exhausted. And
its very serious thing when the
%
raent has reached its limit"
In picture Of the agricultural con-
eiitions OF the country Senator Borah
set forth the distressing situation in
the AGRICULTURAL states and said the
FARMERS were asking relief from taxa
tion and many OF them would be too
poor this spring to hire tho help to
put In crops.
"Are we any nearer che restoration
we simply nearer the election Z" he
asked.
Senator Borsh said 100000 men
we're out Of employment and the rail-
road situation was no better than II
was in July, 1921, when the Precedent
asked that the bonus be laid aside. Re
7erring to the condition of the rail-
roads, he took fling ct the Hoover
proposal to give the roads 3 guar
onty. =,
Il presume that when we DO that,"
he said, "wc will no longer hesitate
20 recognize the Soviet government.
Sounds Warning 60 Veterans
The Senator warned the soldiers OF
the World WAY that their economic
condition could not improve unless
the country as whole improved. Re-
4erriEg 20 taxes to pay the bonus, he
said voting it was easy if Senators
relied for the money on getting Il
cut OF the air." but there we're more
taxpayers than ex-service men and
every time any form OF tax was pro
posed a protest went up. He predicted
shat those back Of the bill would
eventually abandon trying to pase the
bill with a tax plan appended ano
would pass 1t without any tax features
whatever.
Senator Jones, Of New Mexico, ar
gued that there was no more reason
Sor adding tax plan to this bill than
so other bills authorizing expenditures
GAS political proposition" replied
Senator Borah, ct is more desirable
] Co pass 1t in another bill, but it does
not make any difference to the tax
payer"
Compensation for services to the re-
public re held to be the doctrine Of
the Uessians," end said once more he
preferred to look on it as a gratuity
paid out of the fullness Of the heart
CT the nation. He demanded to know
where to draw the line if people were
70 be paid according to their services
in the war, since many who stayed at
home did as much for the country as