The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-09-26
PRES. HARDING VETOES
SOLDIER BONUS BILL
HE APPROVES "AvoWED PUR-
POSE" BUT SAYS CONGRESS
PROVIDED NO FUNDS.
WOULD HURT NATIONS CREDIT

! Unwarranted Distribution, Adding to
Public Debt, Would Establish Dan
gerous Precedent, He Says. Veto
Sustained by Senate.
WASHINGTON, D. C.-President
Harding vetoed the soldier bonus bill
nus bill.
He sent the measure back to con-
gress with message declaring he
could not sign it because it provided
no means for paying the more than
81, 600, 100000 involved Neither the
treasury nor the taxpayers can assume
the bonus burden at this time, Mr.
Harding said.
President Harding said that while
he was in accord 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
/ to its provisions ! do not subscribe.
/ President Harding set forth num-
Der of reasons for returning the bill
! to the house without his approval.
These included
Reasons for Veto.
! Failure OF congress to provide a
means of financing.
That inevitably the bonus would
mean increased taxation.
That the legislation would wipe out
! everything thus far accomplished to
| reduce government expenditures wher-
ever possible.
That a peace bestowal on the ex-
service men was "a perversion OF pub
lie funds" and suggested that future
defense is to be inspired by compen-
sation rather than consciousness OF
duty to flag and country.
That TO add one-sixth OF the total
sum of the public debt for distribu-
ton among less than 100000 OF no.
| 100000 people would undermine con-
fdence on which the nations credit
was builded and establish the prece-
dent OF distributing public funds when
ever the proposal and the numbers al
/ fected make it seem politically appeal
ing to do so"
! Would Mean Borrowing.
That the $l0O00,000,000 of matur
/ ing public debt in the next six years
would be difficult to meet without add
ing the complication Of added borrow
, ings OH account Of bonus.
That the adjusted certificate plan OF
payment with its bank and govern
ment loans was little less than GER
tilted inability Of the government to
pay and practice of sacrificial bar
ter" by the veterans.
That the bonus would not diminish
the later obligation in the way OF pen
sions to the world war veterans.
Asserting that this obligation would
cost more billions than | venture to
suggest" the president declared that
"a national financial policy today is
necessary to make the nation ready
| for the expenditure which is certain
to be required in the coming years"
Care of Disabled.
Mr.. Harding also called attention
to the sums now being expended for
the care of the diseased disabled or
dependent and asserted that the total
cost of this work, with insurance liza
bility added, probably would exceed
| SIS, 900, 100000.
Following is an extract from the
presidents message showing what the
government is now doing for soldiers
Of the world war:
! ton has certain very binding obliga
tions to those OF its defenders who
made real sacrifices in the world war,
/ and who lett the armies injured, dis
| abIed or diseased. so that they could
not resume their places in the normal
activities OF life. These obligations arc
being generously met. In meeting this
lob1igation there is no complaint about
the heavy cost In the current fiscal
wear we are expending $150,G00000
on disqualification and care of sick and
wounded on compensation and voca-
tiona1 training for the disabled, and
for insurance. The figures do not in
clude the more than $35,000,000 in
process OF expenditure on hospital
construction. The estimates for the
wear are approximately $470,000,-
loco. and the figures may need to
be made larger. Through the peak of
disqualification may have passed, there
! is growth in domicilization, and the
discharge in full OF our obligations to
the diseased, disabled or dependent
who have a right to the governments
care. with insurance liability added,
/ will probably reach a total sum in ex-
cess OF $25.000,00
Vocational Training.
! More than 10000 veterans are now
enrolled in some OF the AS different
courses i'll vocational training. Fifty
four thousand OF them are in schools
or colleges, more than $4,000 are in
industrial establishments, and few
more than 5000 are being trained in
oleted their courses and have employ
! schools operated by the veterans bu-
Teau.
Approximately 10000 have COM