Evening star., 1923-01-10
BURSUM DEPLORES
PENSION BILL VETO

| President Harding's recent veto
OF the Bursum pension bill. pro-
posing among others, increases of
civil and Mexican war veterans PEN
sions from $50 to s72 a month, and OF
their widows from $50 to $50. was de.
| plored in an address to the Senate yes
terday by Senator Bursum, republican,
| New Mexico, chairman of the Senate
I pensions committee. Senator Bur-
sum announced, however. that he
| would not attempt TO have the bill
passed over the veto, because, he said,
it would mot result in any accom-
plishment."
The New Mexico senator declared
! that the President had given the
country, unwittingly, an erroneous
! impression of the bill and criticized
provisions which Senator Bursun
said were not contained in it. The
presidential veto, he declared, would
"disappoint many aged veterans ana
WIDOWS who are undoubtedly in dis
| tress and in great need of the in
crease which this bill would have
given them"
Called "Harsh Message"
II cannot help but feel that this
| is harsh message" said Senate
Bursum, "a cruel message. / an,
| patriotic, appreciative, kindl.
character like Mr.. Harding. bis
hearted. generous in his synpatn-
! for suffering humanity. if in posses
sion of all of the facts and circun-
| stances surrounding perhaps IS pc
; cent of the beneficiarieS under the
proposed bill, would have given e2
preston to such a sweeping COT
| demnation of every item that the bill
| stands for
President Harding's alleged misrep-
| reSentation of the bill, Senator Bur
| sum said. was in stating that il pro-
| posed pension increases for widows
who had "cohabited'' for two wears
/ with veteran before his death.
This is serious charge. and un-
| fortunate" he declared. If it were
true, centainly Congress would merit
| a severe censure for attempting 70
| encourage the loosening of the NOR
! ais of the country. No such pro-
/ visions as quoted in the message are
| found in the bill. In view of the
| me that some one has been loose
outside Congress. In my opinion, the
1 President should correct this erro-
| neous impression given the public
4 which has been broadcast to the
| country on account of the erroneous
/ quotation contained in the message.
Challenged Cast.
| Senator Bursum also challenged
1 the Presidents statement that the
| bilrs cost would be sos 000, 900 ad
ditional on the pension rolls for the
next year. The increased cost he
! contended. would be only $1260S,06 GOO
and considering the death roll of
veterans. he added, within two years
the total additional cost would have
! vanished"
THE prediction of a $50, 600. 600, coo
outlay within the next fifty years.
Senator Bursum continued. would
seem shooting far from the mark Of
reason. Fifty-eight years have elaps
ed since the civil war ended If the
veterans and widows of other wars
are required to wait fifty-eight years
before obtaining similar rates OF
pensions provided in the bill there
can he no Justification to expect a
| $50 900 600. 900 outlay unless we un-
fortunately become involved in other
| wars which are not now foreseen"
The financial considerations given
by the President, he said. appeared
, to be "a one-sided picture and an ar
gument by opposing counsel" In
| capacitated veterans. he declared al
ready received $72 a month and most
of the remaining veterans were rap
idly reaching condition which en-
| titled them to the $72 rate without
new legislation.
Senator Bursum announced that he
would introduce a restricted" sub
stitute for the measure voted to give
veterans seventy eight years or more
| of age and widows siXty-eight or over
the pension increases of his original
bill.