Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-20

Washington. Sept. 19.-President
Harding's message to congress vetoing
the soldiers bonus bill was as fol-
lows:
ITO the House of Representatives:
Herewith is returned without ap-
proval, II. R. 10S74, a bill to provide
adjusted compensation for the veter-
ans of the world war and for other
purposes
bill to give expression of a nations
gratitude to those who served In its
defense in the world war, | am IN ac-
cord. but to it's provisions l do not
subscribe. The United States never
will cease to be grateful: it cannot and
never will cease giving expressions to
that gratitude.
"In legislation for what is called al
justed compensation, congress failed,
first of all, to provide the revenue
from which the bestowal is to be paid.
Moreover, it established the very
dangerous precedent of creating a
treasury covenant to pay which puts
n burden ~variously estimated between
four and five billions upon the Amer
lean people not to discharge an obliga-
tion, which the government always
must pay, but to bestow a bonus
which the soldiers themselves while
serving in the world war did not ex-
pect.
Nations Debt to Disabled
1T is not to be denied that the ma
ton has certain very binding obiiga-
tions to those of its defenders who
made real sacrifices in the world war
and who left the armies injured, dis
abled or diseased so that they could
not resume their places in the normal
activities of life. These obligations are
being gladly and generously met. Per
haps there are here and there in
efficiencies and injustices and some
distressing instances Of neglect but
they are all unintentional and every
effort is being directed to their earliest
possible correction.
in meeting this obligation there is
no complaint about the heavy cost. In
the current fiscal year we are expend-
ing $4,000 900 on disqualification, and
care of sick and wounded, on compen-
sation and vocational training for the
disabled. and for insurance. The figures
do not include the more than $35,000,-
600 in process of expenditure on hos
pital construction.
The estimates for the year to fol-
low are approximately $470,000,000
larger. Though the peak in hospitaliza-
ton may have passed, there is a
growth in rehabilitation and the dis
charge 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 sun IN excess
of $25, 900, 900 1000.
$4,000 In Training
more than $4,000 veterans are now
enrolled in some of the 40 different
courses in vocational training. Fifty
four thousand of them are in schools
or colleges, more than $4,000 are in
industrial establishments and a few
more than 5000 are being trained in
schools operated by the veterans
bureau.
approximately 10000 have COM
plsted their courses and have en-
ployment in all cases where they desire
it, and $4,000 have deferred for the
present time their acceptance of train
ing. The number eligible under the law
may reach close to 400, 900 and facili-
ties will continue to be afforded, IN
mindful of the necessary cost until
every obligation is fulfilled.
Two hundred and seventy-si thou
sand patients have been hospitalized,
more than a quarter of a million dis
charged and 25,678 patients are in our
hospitals today.
-Four hundred and sixteen thousand
awards of compensation have been
made on account of death or dis
ability, and $4S0,O00,0 900 has been paid
to disabled men or their dependent
relatives. One hundred and seventy
five thousand disabled ex-service men
are now receiving compensation along
with medical or hospital care where
needed, and a quarter of a million
checks go out monthly in distributing
the SS,OOO,O0O payment on indisputable
obligations.
Economy Is Watchword
II recite the figures to remind the
congress how generously and how prop
erly it has opened the treasury doors
to discharge the obligations of the ma
ton to those whom it indisputabIy
owes compensation and care. Though
undying gratitude is the need of every
n who served, it is not to be said that
a material bestowal is an obligation to
those who emerged from the great
conflict not only unframed but per-
sonally, mentally and spiritually right
er for the great experience. If an
obligation were to be admitted, it 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.
Clearly the bill returned herewith takes
cognizance of the inability of the gov
eminent wisely to bestow and say, in
we do not have the cash.
we do not believe in a tax levy to meet
the situation, but here is our note,
you may have our credit for half its
This is not compensation, but