The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-09-22
PRESIDENT VET0ES
SOLDIERS BONUS
Says McCumber Bill Only Prom
iSes to Pay Half Value.
DOES NOT PROVIDE FUNDS
Also Declares Measure Unpatriotic-
Extends no Hope for Aid in Fu-
ture-Points to Federal Debt
and Revenue Shortage.

In returning the bill to congress with
out his signature, the President dis
patched veto message.
Failure to provide the revenue from
which the bonus would be paid is
given as the principal cause of the
Veto The President referred specifi-
cally to the failure of congress to ac-
cept his suggestion of sales tax to
finance the bonus.
"When the bill was under considera-
ton in the house 1 expressed the con-
viction that any grant of bonus ought
to provide the means of paying it, and
l was unable to suggest any other plan
than that of general sales tax" the
President stated "Such plan was
unacceptable to the congress, and the
bill has been enacted without even a
suggested means of meeting the COST
Calls Measure Stingy.
One of the strongest expressions
against the bill in the Presidents mes
sage is the charge that the measure is
inadequate and 0tingy''--a promise
only half fulfilled.
IF an obligation were to be admit
ted" the President stated, sit would
be to charge the adjusted compensation
bill with inadequacy and stinginess
wholly unbecOming our republic. Such
a bestOwal to be worth while, must be
generous and without apology"
While pointing out the dangers of
the certificate plan of payment as det-
rimental to the nations credit, the
President declares that the nation
never will cease to be grateful to it's
soldiers of the World war.
This gratitude, he points out, already
has taken definite, substantial form to
the men who made actual sacrifices.
During the current fiscal year, he said,
$310,000,000 has been expended on hos
pitalization of the disabled and sick,
with estimates for the coming year
placed at $470,O00,000 A total of
$480,000,000 has been paid disabled
men or their dependents, in addition to
amounts for vocational training and
new hospitals.
1CNAGC bICOC W lllC
congress how generously and how
promptly it has opened the treasury
doors to discharge the obligations of
the nation to those to whom it indis-
putably owes compensation and care"
the President stated.
Recites Tremendous Strain.
The President recited in detail the
tremendous strain that would be
placed upon the nations finances by
the bonus payments, and ended by
calling upon the service men them
selves to consider whether withholding
of the bonus does not constitute such
q policy that makes a better country
for which to fight, or to have fought,
and afford a surer abiding place in
which to i've and attain.
In conclusion, the President said,
he regretted that he had to stand in
the way of the soldiers getting a
bonus, and he "disliked" being out of
harmony with the majority of con-
gress.
1.-THE simple truth is" he conclud-
ed, that this bill proposes a govern
ment obligation of four billions, which
the executive branch must finance in
the face of difficult financial prob
lems."
No Future Promise.
The President made no suggestions
about a bonus at a future time. To
the contrary, the tenor of his mes
saeg indicated that for some years at
least the government will be fighting
constant battle to reduce the pub
lie Indebtedness, and that it would
be unwise to add to that indebted
ness the four or five billion dollars
estimated necessary to pay bonus.
In stressing the financial embar-
rassment of the government, the Presi-
dent pointed out that the last budget
figures show there is a deficit OF $780,
100000, "even after counting upon all
interest collections on foreign indebt-
edness which the government is likely
to receive"
at is worth remembering that the
public credit is founded on the popu-
lar belief In the defensibillty of public
expenditure, AS well as the govern
ment's ability TO pay. Loans come
from every rank of life, and our heavy
tax burdens reach directly or indi-
rectly, every element in orr citizen
ship. To add one-sixth of the total
sum of our public debt for distribu-
ton among less than 100000 out Of
110,000,000 whether inspired by CRATE
full sentiment or political expediency,
would undermine the confidence on
which our credit Is builded, and es-
tablish the precedent of distributing
public funds whenever the proposal
and the numbers affected make 1t seem
politically appealing to do SO.
Congress clearly appraised the dan
ger OF borrowing directly to finance a
bestowal which is without obligation,
and manifestly recognized the finan-
cial problems with which the nation
is confronted. Our maturing prom
Uses TO nav within the current fiscal