The Republican journal., 1922-09-28
Text of Presidents Veto
of Soldiers Bonus Bill.


,aI Fl r. IO874, a bill to provide adjusted
'or,nensation for the veterans of the
.,,orld war and for other purposes
with the avowed purpose of the bill tC
o;ve expression of a nations gratitude tC
those who served in its defense IN the
,,orld war. am in accord, but to its pro-
y;sions | do not subscribe. The United
states never will cease TO be grateful, il
cannot and never will cease giving eX-
pression to that gratitude
In lepisIating for what's called adjusted
COMPENSATION Congress failed, first of all,
10 proyide the revenue from which the
bestowal is to be paid.
Moreover, it establishes the very dan
oerous precedent of creating treasury
covenant to pay which puts burden,
variously estimated between four and five
billions. upon the American people, not to
discharge an obligation, which the govern
ment always must pay, but TO bestow a
honus which the soldiers themselves,
while serving in the world war, did not
expect
II is not to be denied that the nation
has certain very biding obligations to
those of its del enders who made real sa-
crifices in the world war, and who left the
armies injured, disabled or diseased, SO
that they could not resume their places in
theInormal activities of life These obliga-
tions are being gladly and generously met.
Perhaps there are here and there lneihcien-
cies and injustices, and some distressing
instances of neglect, out they are all un-
Intentional, and every energy is being
directed to their earliest possible correc-
ton.
In meeting this obligation there is no
he Nct In 3 h..
current fiscal year we are expending $780,
OOO. 600 on disqualification and re OF sick
and wounded, on compensation and vo-
cational training for the disa bled, and for
insurance. The figures do not include the
more than S35, 900, 900 in process of ex-
penditure on hospital construction.
Estimate for Year S470,OOO, 900.
The estimates for the year to follow are
approximately S470, 600, 900 and the figures
may need to be made larger. Though the
peak in disqualification may have passed,
there is a growth in domiciization and
the discharse in full of our obligations, to
the diseased, disabledor dependent who
have a right to the governments care,
with insurance. liability added, will prob
ably reach a total sum in excess OF S25,-
600, 100000
More IMAM yS,uOO NCtcIdus g ho" Ch-
rolled in some of the 445 different courses
in vocational training. Fifty four thou
sand of them are in schools, or colleges,
more than $1,000 are in industrial estab
6shments, and few more than 5000 are
heino trained in schools oper ated by the
veterans bureau.
Approximately 1900 have completed
their courses and have employment in all
cases where they desire it, and SO, 600
have deferred for the present time their
acceptance of training. The number eli
oible under the law may reach close to
400 600 and facilities will continue to be
afforded, unmindful of the necessary
costs, until every obligation is fulfilled.
Two hundred and seventy-six thousand
patients have been hospitallZed, more
than a quarter of a million discharged,
and %. 678 patients are in our hospitals
today.
Four hundred and sixteen thousand
awards of compensation have been made
on account of death or disability, and
SS480, 000 900 have been paid to disabled
men or their dependent relatives One
hundred and seventy-tive thousand dis
abled ex-seryice men are now receiving
compensation along with medical or hos
pitsl care where needed and quarter of
a million checks go out monthly in dis
tdbuting the eight million dollar pay
ment on indisputable obligations
Cites Estimates of Costs
recite the figures to remind the Con-
gress how generously and how properly
il has opened the treasury doors to dis
charge the obligations of the nation to
those to whom it indisputably owes COM
pensation and care. Though undying
gratitude is the need of every one who
served, it is not to be said that a material
bestowal il an obligation to those who
emerged from the great conflict not only
unharmed, but physically, mentally and
spiritually richer for the great experience.
If an obligation were to be admitted, it
would be to charge the adjusted compen-
sation bill with inadeQuacy and stinginess
wholly unbe coming our republic. Such
bestowal to be worth while must be
generous and without apology. Clearly
the bill returned herewith takes cogni-
zance of the inability of the government
wisely to bestow, and says, in substance,
ave do not have the cash, we do not
believe in tax levy to meet the situa-
ton. But here is our note, you may have
our credit for what its worth" This is
not compensation, but rather pledge by
the Congress, while the executive branch
of the government is left to provide for
payments falling due in ever-increasing
amounts.
When the bill was under consideration
in the House / expressed the conviction
that any grant of bonus ought to provide
the means OF paying it, and was unable
to suggest any plan other than that OF
general sales tax. Such a plan was un-
acceptable to the Congress, and the bill
has been enacted without even a sug-
gested means of meeting the cost. ln-
deed, the cost is not definitely known,
either for the immediate future, or in the
ultimate settlement. The treasury esti-
mates, based on what seems the most
likely exercise of the options. figures the
direct cost at approximately Sl45, 00O, 600
for 1923; S225, 900, 900 for 1924; Sll4.000,-
900 for 1925; 1912, O00, 900 for 1926, max
ing total of S795, 900, 900 for the first
four years of it's operation and total
cost in excess of 81, 000, 000,0 No esti-
mate of the large indirect cost ever has
been made. The certificate plan sets up
no reserve against the ultimate liability.
The plan avoids any considerable direct
outlay by the government during the
earlier years of the bills proposed opera >
tlons, but the loans on the certificates
would be floated on the credit of the ma
ton. This is borrowing on the nations S
credit Just as truly as though the loans
were made by direct government borrow
Ing and involves a dangerous abuse of