The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-09-20

EN- n1phatic
in Message
Failure TO Provide Revenue
and Burden Not a Just
Obligation Chief Rea.
sons for Action.
House May Override Ac.
Full text OF President Harding's
message vetoing the soldiers bonus
bill will be found on Page Two.
BY GRAFTON S. WILCOX.
Omaha lice I.as.d Wire

Omahs lice Leased Wire.
Washington, Sept l9--ExerciSing
his veto power in emphatic manner,
President Harding today dealt tbs
soldiers bonus bill what appears to
be a death blow. lie not only reject
ed the bill, but in his message ek-
planning his act, questioned the poll.
icy OF awarding patriotic service with
cash.
Nothing short OF a political miraele
can save the bill. Its supporters, en-.
thusiastic in their optimism for two
years, have now practically g;fen up
hope OF miracles.
The house OF representatives un-
doubtedly will override the veto by
wide majority tomorrow, but in tho
senate the anti-bonus forces appear
to have control by slender majority
OF two or three votes. Tonight there
appears to be no present prospect OF
a break in their lines.
Senate Behind Harding.
Only 50 votes, counting pairs. are
needed TO sustain the veto, and the
careful canvass today indicated that
there would be IS or SO votes to sup
port the president
President Harding vetoed the bo-
nus bill and sent it back to congress
ior two main reasons which he set
forth at the outset OF his message.
FIRST, because it failed to proyid.
the revenue TO defray its expense.
j.. Second, because, he said, 1T estab-
lIshes the very dangerous precedent
OF creating treasury covenant TO
pay which puts a burden, variouslv
estimated between $4,000,OO0OO and
S5,o0O,OOO,OO0, upon the American
people, not to discharge an obliga.
ton, which the government always
must pay, but TO bestow bonus
which the soldiers themselves. while
serving in the world war did not ex-
pect."
Perversion OF Funds.
lie further declared that "peaee
plestowal on the ex-service men. as
though the supreme Offering could
be paid for with cash, is a perversion
81 public funds, reversal of the pol-
ICY which exalted patriotic service in
the past, and suggests that future
aeiense Is to be inspired by compen.
sation rather than consciousness OF
duty to flag and country"
Mr.. Harding took occasion to call
attention again to the money spent
Dy the government on disabled vet
erans which he said in the course OF
iIne would exceed $25,0000O0,0O0. He
predicted that in the years to come
congress would be called upon to ap-
oroprlatc money for pensions to
world war veterans and added that
his would cost more billions than
venture to suggest" The govern
nents ability to meet this prospec-
i've outlay wouldbe seriously i'm
oared, he argued, if the bonus bill
became lazy.
10 emphasize further his conten-
ion that the treasury can not bear
he additional burden OF the bonus.
he president stated that the govern
nent was confronted by deficit OF
for the current fiscal
md "a further deficit for the wear
ucceeding, even after counting upon
III interest collections on foreign in
lebtness which the government -
likely 10 receive
Governmental Folly.
ITO add to our pledges TO paw.
le added, except as necessity COM
'els, must seem no less than gov
folly"
The house heard the reading ni
he veto message in complete silence.
When the clerk had concluded, thers
sas feeble ripple Of applause, prin-
ipally IRON the republican side. Ii
vas plain that the house was ready
o pass the bill promptly over tia
residents veto. but unon motion oi
Moudell, Wyoming,
epuhliean leader, action was deiers
Cd until tomorrow TO give meui-
tfs an opportunity TO study /, aud
. enable ahseuttes to return ia
There was considerable surprise
Fer the rather blunt and final lau.
uAge oi the presidents veto mr.s
ast II Mas recalled that during the
ampAiRn he declared Ia favor ~ tho
onus Even when hr spnsarsd be-.
1fe The asuate last year with al ar
Fal Tor pastponemFHt ~ actions
anuA advocates uudetstpoi hIm -
iean that IL Nnali pot nhieet ta
ffutH ts esss twu, taisas Ast