, 1923-01-10
BURSUM FLAYS
PRES|DENTFOR
PENSION VETO
VIII Not Try to Force
Passage Of Measure
Over Objection

WASHINGTON. D.. O.. IA, N
resident Harding's recent veto OF
the Bursum pension bill proposing
among others increases of civil and
Mexican war veterans pensions from
$So to $12 a month and Of their wild.
ows from $50 to $50. was deplored in
an address to the senate by sem
ator 3ursum, Republican, New Mex-
leo chairman of the senate pensions
committee. Senator Bursum announc-
ed he ruld not attempt to have the
bill pessed over the veto because. he
said. II would mot result in any an-
complishment.f"
The New Mexico senator declared
the president har given tie conn
try unwittingly. an i'm
preston Of the bin and criticised pro
visions which Senator Bursum said
were not contained in II. Tho presi-
Dental veto. he declared would dis.
appoint many aged veterans and
widows who are undoubtedly in dis.
tress and In great need of the in
crease which tho bill would have
given them
I cannot help but feel that this
is a harsh message. a cruel message"
said Senator Bursum.
II am unable to make myself be-
lieve that a patriotic. a~ppreciative.
kindly character like Mr.. Harding.
II In possession of all the facts and
circumstances surrounding perhaps
70 per cent OF the beneficiaries under
the proposed bill. would have given
expression to such p sweeping con
domination of every item that the bill
stands for
President Harding's alleged piisre-
presentation Of the bill. Senator Bur
sum said. WINS in stating that It pro-
posed pension increases for widows
who had 'scohabited' for two years
with a veteran before his death.
This is a serious charge and an
fortunate" he declared. 'If 1t were
true certainly would merit a censu=e
for attempting to encourage the
loosening of tho morals OF the coun-
try. No such provisions as are quot
ed in the message are found in the
bill. In view of the error contained
II seems to me that some
one has been loose outside Of con-
gress. In my opinion the president
should correct this Inn
preston given the public which has
been broadcast to the country on
account OF the erroneous quotation
contained in the message
Senator Bursum also challenged
the presidents statement that the
bin cost would be sos. o0o.O add
tionai on the pension rolls for the
next year, The increased cost, he
commended. would be only $72 SOS 900.
and considering the death rate of
veterans, he ADJ within two years
the total additional cost would have
~"vanished."
The prediction of a $50, 900 .000. 900
outlay within the next fifty years.'
Senator Bursuml continued. would
seem shooting far from the mark Of
reason. Fifty-eight years nave elaps-
ed since the civil war ended II the
veterans and willows OF other wars
are required to walt fitty-eight years
before obtaining similar rates OF PEN
sions provided in the bill. there can
be no justification to expect a $780,
600. 600 900 outlay unless we unfortu-
nately become involved in other wars
which are not now foreseen."
The financial considerations gtven
by the president. he said. appeared
to be "a ~one-sideo picture and an
argument by opposing counsel"
Incapacltnted veterans, he de
clared. already receive s72 and most
of the remaining veterans were rap
idly reaching the condition which
entitled them to tho s72 ratio with
out new legislation.