Evening star., 1922-09-20
R;.te by Mail-Payahle in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
All Other States,
The Bonus Veto.


In the cleareSt possible terms the
President sets forth in his message to
Congress the undeniable reasons
against the enactment of a bonus law
SranIin. large sums in the aggregate
to the American veterans of the great
war. His veto is stronger even than
il was expected to he--So strong in Its
terms <, unassaillh. in its logic. that
i: can hardly liz. conceived that it will q
fail to appeal tn one-third of one
branch Of Congress and effect the de
feat of the measure at least for this
session.
The President puts his objections
distinctly upon the ground of the in
ability of the country at this time to
bear the burden of the bonus. He
shows. in figures that cannot be ques
toned. that the Treasury is in no con
dtinn now To meet the additional
drafts that the proposed bonus will
entail. estimated at sli6.000.0O0 during
1928. 500 800 900 for 1924. 1l4,000 900
for 1925 and $312 100000 for 1926. a
total in four years ot s796.000. 900, and
Il total estimated cost Of more than
four billions.
With no means provided in the
measure for the raising of this addi-
tional revenue: with q deficit now in
immediate prospect owing to the fact
that government expenditures have
not been brought down to the point OF
income: with enormous sums going out
annually in support of the disabled
veterans of the war. agg. egatlng. II is
estimated. more than $4,000, 600 900
hefnrc the end of the course of pro
visions for their care. treatment and
aid. the President regards this propo-
sItion as unfair 10 the country as I'M
posing an unjust burden upon the peo-
pie. and as therefore inadmissible,
even though there prevails spirit of
unbounded gratitude for and sympathy
with the men who gave themselves
in the nations service in time of its
great need.
Expressing the keenest concern for
the welfare of those for whose aid this
bin has been drafted and passed by
Congress, the President rejects it as
IL dangerous abuse of the public credit.
The certificate plan of payment pro
posed by it is. he says. little less than
certified inability of the government TO
pay and invites a practice on sacri-
fetal barter which he cannot sane
ton.
In one paragraph the President
strongly states the whole case against
the bonus:
To add one-sixth of the total sum of
our public debt for distribution
among less than 100000 out of no.
600. 900. whether inspired by grateful
sentiment or political eXpediency.
would undermine the confidence on
which our credit is builded and estab
1ish the precedent of distributing pub
lie funds whenever the proposal and
the numbers affected make it seem
politically appealing to do 50.
No matter what the political ex-
pediency of their votes to override the
veto. members of Congress cannot fail
TO recognize the sound common sense
Of the Presidents message. He has
pointed out the wrong that is proposed
and stated the case for the people who
must pay the cost OF this measure.
Many Of those who will vote to pass
the bill. the objections of the President
to the contrary Notwithstanding. will
privately applaud his course. Many of
the veterans Of the war. organized and
otherwise. are themselves strongly op-
posed 20 the adjusted compensation
plan. The people generally, outside of
circles identified with the interests of
the veterans of the war. regard the
measure from precisely the same
standpoint as that taken by the Presi-
dent IN his veto.
President Harding has by his action
in this matter rendered an invaluabl
A-vice to the country.