The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-05-11
PRESS ON PENSION VETO

PRESS ON PENSION VETO
In sending back the Bursum pension meas
ure with his veto, President Coolidge re-
marked that mo public requirement. at the
present time ranks with the necessity for the
reduction of taxes" The people are glad
that the president feels that way about it.
There is an impression to be gathered from
the actions of some politicians in congress
that no public requirement at any time ranks
with the inclination to make political APP
! preparations. For there is little doubt that
much of the appropriation for pensions goes
to those who are not legitimate claimants for
the distinction. The marvellous manner in
which the pension list grows as time goes
on, instead of decreases, is subject to ex-
cite more than passing curiosity.
1t is the belief of the Cleveland Plain
Dealer, which does not appear enthusiastic
in favor of either measure, that both the
pension bill and the bonus measure will re-
pass over the presidents veto, provided he
also vetoes the bonus. The Plain Dealer
thinks that another week will probably tell
the story in both cases. The Bursum bill
is scheduled to be called up Tuesday in the
senate and presidential action on the bonus
bill will probably be not long delayed. Now
that the issue has been definitely raised be-
tween the executive and legislative depart
ments on questions affecting public expendi-
ture, it is highly desirable that 1t be decided
promptly. Congress cannot act inteiiigentiy
on the revenue bill until these proposed in
creased expenses have been detlnltely APP
proved or disapproved."
The presidents disapproval is strongly sup
ported by the Kansas City Times: President
Coolidge showed courage in opposing the Will
of congress as to this BILL 1t was a hand
some gesture, of a kind that congress likes
to make. 1t was easier to pass the bill than
to resist the appeal for it. Congress, there
fore, passed the responsibility on to the pres
ident, and he has accepted by declining to
give it his approval. Having called upon
congress to retrench and reduce taxes, he IS
consistent in refusing to sanction measure
that would call for the raising of fifty-eight
million dollars year in new taxes" And
the Star, morning organ, affiliated with the
Times: 1.-THE country is alive to the burden
of taxes. 1t understands that all these pro-
posed appropriations are going to add to that
burden 1t is grateful for the comprehen-
sion of national conditions and for the cour-
age that have impelled President Coolidge to
take his resolute stand for economy"
A widely prevailing opinion is voiced by
the Louisville Courier-Journal IF the veto
be overridden, it will be by politicians in con-
Rress who believe it more profitable in their
business of politics to heed the demand OF
the pensioners than to promote the welfare
of the nation :" The Coueier-Journ is also
of opinion that rPresident Coolidge has
alarmed that element of his party at Wash
ington which acts on the theory that 1t Is
good politics to give the pension and bonus
hunters what they demand, but he has
strengthened the countrys confidence in his
purpose and courage to do what he thinks
right His veto message. is fearlessly out
spoken definition of his reasons for his re-
lection of a bill, sent to him by such ma
jority of congress that its supporters are
claiming it will be easy to pass 1T over ms
Veto" Still, it may be that sufficient
number of congressman will be impressed
by the presidents view to point where
they will not seek to- destroy his veto.
A view .as to the benefits claimed for the
measure is given by the Detroit Free Press
Placing this measure on the statute BOOKS
would add fifty-eight million dollars to the
national budget next year, and would con-
Atipue to be drain on the treasury for some
time to come. But it would not relieve any
suffering among veterans and the widows
of veterans of wars up to 1902, because these
veterans and their widows already are fully
provided for in the law of 1920. This law
gives to those who are in want all that the
Bursum bill undertakes to give them. An out
standing popularity of the latter is its pro-
vision for distributing emergency aid TO
everybody regardless of need, deserts or rec
ord and merely on the strength OF the fact
that the beneficiary or the husband of the
beneficiary was at some time in the military
service of the United States. This sort OF
thing is not recognition of patriotism. AT
the very best it is a piece of undscriminating
sentimentalism, and at the worst, it is some
thing very much less tolerable."
A vigorous attitude is assumed by the st.
Louis Post-Dispatch, which is militantly
against the Bursum measure: "Mr. Coolidge
in his message has spoken candidly and with
something approaching warmth in behalf OF
the taxpayer. He tells congress that the
need for economy in public expenditure can
not be Overestimatedi That expression is
probably as near the superlatiTe as Mr..
Coolidge can get, but the facts warrant even
more vigorous language. 1t would hardly
be amiss for the president to warn congress
that it must stop squandering the peoples
money like drunken sailors; that it must
stop playing the Fairy Prince with the peo-
pies funds The New York World joins
in the praise of the veto, while the Times
declares: "It is lawmaking Of bad kind,
because it is avowedly in the interest of only
a small class The president would place
first the welfare of the whole country To
those who urge that they are only seeking
to do justice to pensioners, he replies that
there is crying need of 'solicitude to do JUS
tice to taxpayers
Nowhere in all the papers examined, North
or South, Republican, non-partisan OF Dem
ocratic, was there discovered any disap-
proyaI of the veto or the slightest hint of
support of the Bursum bill. How it could
appear undesirable to all editors and yet
receive an overwhelming endorsement in con-
gress is one of the enigmas that will never
- solved for those who do not understand the
game Of pslitics The only thing the ma
iority of people do understand about politics
is that the people pay the scot.
EOR ..ruE pEOpI Z To DECIDE