The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-01-04
PensiOnBill
Vetoed by
Declares Bursum Measure Fa.
yOrs Civil Var Veterans
Dependents Over Those
of World War.
Author Will Fight Act

Washington. Jan. S-Senator Bur-
sum said late today that he expected
10 make a motion in the senate, pos
sibly tomorrow. to pass the bill over
the presidents veto.
Washington. Jan. 5.-The Bursum
bill providing for an increase in tho
pensions OF civil and Mexican war
veterans was vetoed today by Presi-
dent Harding
In his veto message the president
declared the increase in govegn-
mental expenditures involved would
amount to "heedlessness" and OBJ
| jected also to the bills loose pro-
vision for pensioning widows"
In brief message returned to the
senate. where the bill originated, the
president said:
II am returning herewith senate
3275. an act granting pensions to GER.
tain soldiers. sailors and marines of
the civil war. etc. without my ap.
proval.
mo New Generosity"
'If the act were limited to its pro.
visions in behalf OF the surviving par
ticipants in the Mexican and civil
wars. and widows of the war of 1872,
1t would still be without ample justi-
| fication. The commissioner of pen.
sions estimates it's additional cost to
the treasury to be about $4,000. 900
annually, and l venture the predic-
tion that with such a precedent es-
tablished the ultimate pension outlay
1 in, lo haIf I.f
ceed $4,000, 100000. The act makes
no pretense OF new considerations for
the needy or dependent, no new gen.
erosity for the veteran wards OF tho
nation; it is an outright bestowal up
on the governments pension rolls,
with a heedlessness for the govern
ments financial problems which is a
encouragement to every effort to re-
duce expenditures and thereby re.
lieve the federal burdens OF taxa.
tons.
loose Provisions"
THE more particular objection TO
this act. however. lies In its loose
provisions for pcnsioning widows.
The existing law makes the widow
of a civil war veteran eligible to a
pension il she married him prior to
June 81. 1905. In other words. mar
riage Within 40 years of the end of
thu civil war gGes a veterans widow
a good title to pension. The act
returned herewith extends the mar
riage period specifically to June 27.
1915 and provides that after that
date any marriage or cohabitation for
two years prior to veterans death
shall make the widow the beneficiary
of pension at $50 per month for the
remainder of her life.
I'm rfew of the fact that this same
bill makes provision for pensions for
widows of the veterans OF the war OF
1912, the possible burden Of this sweep
Ing provision seems worthy of serious
consideration. Frankly ! do not rec
ognize any public obligation to pen
sion women who now. nearly 60
years after the civil war, become the
wives of veterans OF that war.
| Generous Treatment Due.
"The government has so many de-
tenders to whom generous treatment
is due that congress will find 1t nec-
essary to consider all phases Of our
obligations when making provisions
for any one group.
"The compensation paid to the wild
ows Of world war veterans. those who
shared the shock and sorrows OF the
conflict. amounts to s24 per month.
1t would be indefensible to insist OH
that limitation upon actual war Wild
ows. IL we are to pay $500 per year
to widows who married veterans so
years after the civil war
| "WARREN g. HARDING"