The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-05-12
BlRSUM BILL VETOED

President Coolidge's wise and
righteous veto Of the Bursum pen |
sion bill ought to mark a turning !
point in our pension policy. If IL
does not. there is simply no telling |
what burdens this people will have !
10 carry in the next few years.
We made a great mistake when
we adopted the service pension
policy, and granted pension TO
all who served in the Union army.
TO matter for how short a time and
whether they had suffered any dis
ability traccable to their service.
If that precedent be followed.
with four or five million men eligi~
bic to pensions, It will be necessary
tn increase taxes enormously II the
treasury Is not to be bankrupted.
The time has come to stop the
business Of granting gratuities out
Of taxes.
The veto OF the Bursum pension
ill by the President, which had
| received large majority in both
houses Of Congress, was the act .!
a wise and courageous man. II re-
CURED courage. because this is a
national election year. and. as
usual. Is marked by an ill-disguiscd
effort to attract votes in exchange
fer legislative favors to specified
groups.
The veto was right. because, rs
the President says, mo conditions
exist which justify the imposition
OF this additional burden upon the
ta% payers of the nation Public
opinion will approve the action and
sustain the veto whatever Congress
may do.
The proposal is to add approx
mately $5S.OO0,000 annually to the
sums already granted to veterans.
widows. dependent children and
nurses of the war of 1872, and OF
the Mexican, civil, Spanish. Philip
pine and Boxer wars.
All Of this class who are in need,
and with the shadow Of a claim on
the federal government. are now
receiving aid. AS recently as 1920
there was lberalizing, of our al
ready liberal pension laws. the ef-
/ feet of which was to qualify many
tor pensions, who before then had
had at best a questionable claim.
To follow that with still fur
Their beneficence. at an estimated
cost in the next 10 years of $4l5,'
, coo. 900. is to show an utter disre-
gard for the public welfare.
The President leaves no doubt "a
Z to his position, and the reason fol
, l.. mo public requirement" he
says. "at the present time rank:
with the necessity for the reduc
ton OF taxes" This there can no
he. If budget estimates are disre
garded. and large extraordinary ap
preparations are made.
We quote from the message:
}, THE desire to do justice to pen
f sIoners. however great their merit
must be attended by some solici
tade to do justice to taxpayers.
e The advantage of class can no
be greater than the welfare of tn
= nation. The welfare of the Who'll
country must be considered.
i The need for economy in publ
n expenditures at the present tim
Is can not be over-estimated. | al
for economy. am against ever
unnecessary payment of the none
ia OF the taxpayers. The burde
OF the taxpayers must not be il
creased. Every proposal for legi:
lation must be considered in I'll
light of this necessity"
IL The President is not in the bus
e. ness of swapping public money fc
2 votes. The people ought to fin
~ some way--though the task will /
a. difficult-to make Congress unde
S. stand that they approve his vet
:" and rejoice in the demonstrate
!, that there is at least one man
y Washington who is thinking. not
- blocs and classes but of the poop
er and the nation.
II. If there were any who believe
to that Mr.. Coolidge was not seriO,
:" In his demand for economy the
must now be undeceived. 1t TOOL
very much as though a veto OF tt
lr bonus hill is impending.-Ind
!. apoliS News.