The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1922-09-22
PRESIDENT VETOES
SOLDIER BONUS BILL
Harding Assigns Many Rea-
sons For Course In
Summary.

Washington. Sept. 19-President
Harding's bonus veto message fol-
lows:
ITO the House Of Representatives
Herewith Is returned without APP
proval, II. X. 1854 bill Ito pro-
vide adjusted compensation for the
veterans Of the World War and for
other purposes)
with the avowed purpose of the
bill to give expression of nations
gratitude to those who served in its
defense in the World War, | am in
accord. but to its provisions do not
subscribe. The United States never
will cease to be grateful; II cannot
and never will cease giving express
sion to that gratitude.
l"In legislating for what is called
adjusted compensation, Congress
failed, first of-all, to provide the
revenue from which the bestowal is
to be paid Moreover 1t establishes
the very dangerous precedent of
Grating a treasury covenant to pay
which puts burden, variously es-
timated between four and five bill
lions. upon the American people, not
to discharge an obligation, which
the Government always must pay.
but to bestow a bonus which the sol
diers themselves while serving in the
World War did not expect.
Generous Aid for Injured.
1T is not to be denied that the ma
tion has certain very binding obliga-
tions to those of its defenders who
made real sacrifices in the World
War and who left the armies injur-
ed, disabled or diseased so that they
could not resume their places in the
normal activities OF life. These OBJ
legations are being gladly and gem
erously met Perhaps here and there
are inefficiencies and injustices and
some distressing instances of neglect,
but they are all unintentional and
every energy is being directed to
their earliest possible correction.
lin meeting this obligation there
is no complaint about the heavy cost.
In the cur%ent fiscal year we are ex-
pending $50. 200. 900 on hospitaliza-
ton, and care of sick and wounded,
on compensation and vocational
training for the disabled, and for in
surance. The figures do not include
the more than s35 900 900 in process
OF expenditure on hospital construc-
tion.
"The estimates for the year to fol-
low are approximately s47O,000 900
and the figures may need to be made
larger. Though the peak in hospital
ization may have passed, there is
growth in Capitalization, and the dis
charge in full Of our obligations to
the diseased, disabled or dependent
who have right to the Governments
care, with insurance liability added,
will probably reach total sum in
excess of $4,000, 900 900.
Vocational Training Facilities.
"More than $4,000 veterans are
now enrolled in some of the 445 diff
ferent courses in vocational training.
Fifty-four thousand, of them are in
schools or colleges. more than 49,
900 are in industrial establishments ]
and few more than 5000 are being |
trained in schools operated by the |
Veterans Bureau.
approximately 10000 have COM
pleted their courses and have en-
ployment in all cases where they de-
sire 1t, and $4,000 have deferred for
the present time their acceptance Of
training. The number eligible under
the law may reach close to 100000
and facilities win continue to be at
forded. unmindful Of the necessary
cost, until every obligation is fulfill
ed.
tive hundred and seyenty-six
thousand patients have been hos
pitalized. more than 100000 dis
charged and 25.67S patients are in
our hospitals today.
-Four hundred and sixteen thou
sand awards of compensation have
been made on account of death. or
disability. and s4SOOOO,0OO have
been paid to disabled men, OF their
dependent relatives. One hundred
md seventy-five thousand disabled
ex-serviee men are now receiving
along with medical or
hospitai care where needed and 250.-
300 checks go out monthly in distrib-
iting the 100000 payment on in