Evening star., 1931-02-27
BONUS BILL PASSES
OVER HOOVER VETO
Senate Vote of rs to II
Makes Legislation Law
Despite President.
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Continued From First Page.)
supporter of the bonus loan bill,
launched into a defense of the measure
and a criticism of the Presidents veto
message. When he concluded his adj
dress there were cries of Vote, vote !"
from many of the Senators, and in
preparation for such a vote Senator
Reed of Pennsylvania called tor a
quorum.
Senator Hastings of Delaware sug-
gested that some of the veterans might
borrow money on their bonus certlf1-
Gates to buy automobiles and luXurleS.
He said that there had been reports
that veterans already had borrowed
money on their certificates and bought
small motor cars and neglected their
wives and children.
II do not know any soldier who bor-
roWed for such a purpose" continued
Senator Hastings, when he was asked
to name one of them. Il do not know
personally, but 1 do know many eX-
chance, would steal certificate from
their wives and go out and spend the
night with some other women"
Senator Barkley of Kentucky chal-
lenged Senator Hastings to name a
single soldier who would do such a
thing.
"Of course, would not name him II
I could replied Senator Hastings.
You do not know any veterans who
Barkley. That is whv you will not
name them Senator Barkley insisted
that the Hastings remark was a renee
ton upon the men who had defended
the flag.
Senator Hastings retorted that no re-
flection was intended to be cast on the
veterans He added:
But the Senator from Kentucky
knows that the ex-Soldier is human be-
ing. and is not different from other cit
liens and is apt to do the things that
others do"
Letter From Veteran Read.
He read to the Senate letter from a
veteran in Delaware which declared
that Senator Hastings had "disregarded
the wishes of the great majority OF eX-
service men in Delaware" when he had
voted against the bonus bill. 1t con-
tinued IF you are wise you Will see
the handwriting on the wall and not
vote to sustain the Presidents veto"
The writer went on to say that unless
Senator Hastings supported the loan
bill the writer would be forced to vote
against him when he came up for re-
election.
Senator Hastings said that he had no
doubt that other Senators had received
such letters. He said that he had the
greatest sympathy with World War vet
Grams in distress, and for those who had
been disabled, but that he did not con-
slider the pending loan bill was fair to
anybody, to the veterans, to the Gov
eminent. or to the people as a whole,
and that he would vote against it,
InI @l,o okA
ton of the Senate to the fact that
when the first demand came during the
present session of Congress for aid to
veterans, it was proposed to pay them
the entire face value of their bonus
certificates. This, he pointed out, would
have made a payment OF from three
and a half to four billion dollars. The
pending loan bill, he said. when con-
sidered by the opponents of the original
plan. was satisfactory. Yet, he said, the
pending loan bill is attacked now in
the same way that the larger program
had been attacked.
Discusses Financing.
I'VE are told" said Senator Vanden-
berg, that this bill will not aid the
veterans Yet we were warned not to
make this legislation any broader"
President Hoover in his veto message
the Michigan Senator said, had chal-
lenged the financing CT the bonus loan
plan and had suggested that If the
securities in the sinking fund. now In
the Treasury, could not be sold to cover
the loans, it night be necessary tC
increase taxes.
If there is an increase in taxes
made next Winter" said Senator Van
denberg, land such an increase may be
made it will not be made because oi
this legislation, but because Of the
budgetary expenditures of the Govern
ment. There are enough securities Ii
the Treasury today, designed eventually
to retire these certificates, to cover a
loan which will be made under this
bill"
Senator Vandenberg declared it woulc
be feasible for the Government to dis
pose of these securities and to obtain
the money to advance the veterans or
their bonus certificates. If anything
he said, the plan would make easier the
financing of the whole soldiers bonu:
| payment, which falls due in l945.
Estimates 1897 ,OOO, 900 Fund.
"The President says in his message
that there is not a penny in the Treas
ury to take care of these loans" sale
UondaYborO tFThat ic nY1lU fTIlg