The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-09-23
Bill
VETOED BY
PRESIDENT
President Hardin g
Gives His Reasons
For Refusing Con-
sent to Gratuity to
Service Men


Washington, Sept. 19.-President
Harding vetoed the soldiers bonus
bill today, informing congress in a
written message that While he was
in accord with '.the avowed pur.
poses of the measure he did not
subscribe to its provisions.
The executives action was re-
gardea generally in Washington as
making improbable a bonus for
! the World War veterans, at least
/ for some time to come; as it ap-
peared to be almost certain that
the. veto would be sustained by the
senate. Al vote IN the house was
planned for tomorrow with senate
acton to follow later in the day
or on Thursday.
| Text of Message.
President Harding's bonus veto
message follows:
.sTo the house Of representatives:
Herewith is returned without
approval II. r.. 1e854,:a "a bill To
provide adjusted compensation for
the veterans of the World War and
! for other purposes 9.
with the avowed purpose OF
| the bill to give expression OF a
nations gratitude to those who
served in its defense in the World
war, I am in accord, but to its pro-
visions 1 do not subscribe. The
| United States never will cease to
| be grateful, it can not and never
Will cease giving expression tc
! that gratitude.
"In legislating for what is call
led adjusted compensation congress
failed, first of ALL to provide the
revenue from which the bestowa1
is to be paid. N ofeover, it: eseab-
fishes the very dangerous precedent
of creating a treasury covenant to
pay which puts a burden, various
lly estimated between four and five
billions, upon the American people
not TO discharge an obligation,
which the government always must
pay. but to hestow a bonus which
the soldiers themselves, while
serving in the World war, did not
expect.
ut is not to be denied that the
nation has certain very binding
obligations to those of its defend
ers who made real sacrifices in
the World war, and who left the
armies wounded. disabled or dis
eased, so that they could not re-
sumo their places in the normal
activities Of life. These obliga-
tions are being gladly and gener-
ously met. Perhaps there are
here and there inefficiencies and
inmstices, and some distressing
instances Of neglect. but they are
all unintentienal, and every en-
ergy is being directed to their ear
liest possible correction.
No Complaint as to Cest.
'In meeting this obligation there
is no complaint about the heavy
cost. In the current fiscal year We
are expending s510,8Bo, 900 on hos
pitalization and care of sick and
wounded. on compensation and
vocational training for the dis
abled, and for insurance. Phe
figures do not include the more
than $4,000, ,00e in process Of ex-
pehditure on hospital construction.
The estimates for the year to fol-
low are approximately s470.0e0,-
eco. and the figures may need to
be. made larger. Though the peak
in disqualification may have passed,
there is growth in domicilization,
and the discharge in full of our
obligations to the diseased. dis
abled. or dependent who have a
right to the governments care.
with insurance liability added, will
probably reach a total sum in ex-
cess of. $4,000, ,0O0.00G.
more than $4,000 veterans are
now enrolled in some Of the 44o
different courses in vocational
training. Fifty-four thousand of
them are in schools or colleges.
more than $4,000 are in industrial
establishments and few more
than 5000 are being trained in
schools operated by the veterans
bureau.
approximately $4,000 have COM
pleted their courses and have en-
ployment in all cases where they
desire it, and $4,000 hare deferred
for the present time their accept
.ance Of training. The number
eligible under the law may reach
close to 400 900. and facilities will
continue to be afforded, unmindful
of the necessary cost, until every
obligation is fulfilled.
"rwo hundred and seventy-slx
thousand patients have been hos,
pitaIized. more than a quarter of
a million discharged, and 25,67S
patients are in our hospitals today.
-Four hundred and sixteen
thousand awards of compensation
have been made on account Of
death or disability. and s480,000,-
900 have been paid to disabled, men
or their dependent relatives. One
hundred and seventy-five thousand
disabled ex-service men now re-
ceiving compensation along with
medical or hospital care where
needed and uuarter of million