Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-26
PRESIDENT VETOES
BONUS AS UNW|SE
Message Nails Assumption
Each Veteran Can Borrow
$500 Under Bill.
Continued From First Pagal

Continued From First PAgs)
for the payment Of the face value Of
these certificates in about 1913" To
date he said, this has involved an APP
preparation averaging $I12.000.000 a
year The accumulation OF these APP
preparations is represented by Govern
ment obligations deposited In Q reserve
fund. now amounting TO about $780,
100000.
The breach of fundamental prin-
ciples In this proposal" said the Pres
ident. referring to the bonus loan bill,
IFS the requirement of the Federal Gov
eminent 10 provide an enormous sum
of money to a vast majority who are
able to care for themselves and who are
caring for themselves
Veterans Given Necessities.
The President said that the sole APP
peal for the present reopening Of the
bonus act Is the claim that funds from
the National Treasury should be pro-
vided to veterans in distress as the re-.
suit of the drought and business de-
preston.
There are veterans unemployed and
in need today In common with many
others of our people," said the Presi-
provided with basic necessities of life
by the devoted committees In those
parts Of the country affected by the
depression OF drought The Govern
ment and many employers are giving
preference to veterans In employment.
Their welfare is and should be a mat
ter Of concern to our people. Inquiry
indicates that such care Is being given
throughout the country, and 1t also in
hnt he 81 gAko Iva
need Of relief Is q minor percentage
Of the whole"
The President expressed an opinion
that q great many of the veterans
would oppose the payment Of the
bonus at this time to men who are
not in need.
II have yet most confidence" he
said, that our service men would be
among the first to oppose a policy of
Government assistance to veterans who
have property and means to support
themselves, for service men are as de-
voted to the welfare Of our country in
peace as in war, and as clearly fore
see the dangers of embarking on such
policy. 1t could create resentments
which ultimately react against those
who should be given care"
Arguments Answered.
Turning to the argument that the
distribution of hundreds of millions of
dollars under the terms OF the bonus
loan bill would stimulate business gen.
orally. the President said: we cannot
further the restora ton of prosperity by
borrowing from some Of our people,
pledg1ng the credit of all Of the people,
TO loan to some Of our people who are
not in need of money. If the exercise
OF these rights were limited TO expendi-
ture upon necessities only, there would
be no stimulation to business. The
theory of stimulation Is based upon the
anticipation of wasteful expenditure.
1t can be of no assistance in the return
OF real prosperity. II this argument of
proponents is correct, we should make
Government loans to the whole peo-
pie"
The President took a rap also at
the argument advanced by supporters
Of the bill that its provisions should be
made applicable to all veterans and not
confined to those in need. This argu-
ment, he said. had been based on the
theory that those deserving help who
applied for aid would be made into a
pauper class.
"On the contrary" said the Presi-
dent, veterans in need are, and should
be, preferred class, that a grateful
country would be proud TO honor with
Its support Adoption of the principle
of aid to the rich or to those able to
support themselves in itself sets up a
group of special privilege among our
citizens.
Consider Nations Wellbeing.
The President declared that he had
no desire to present the monetary
aspects of the question, except so far
as they affect the human aspects" He
continued, Surely 1t Is human aspect
to transfer to the back of those who
toll, including veterans, a burden of
those who by position and property
can care for themselves. 1t is human
aspect to incur the danger OF continued
or increased unemployment 1t is hui
man aspect to deprive women and chill
dren Of protection by reckless use of
an endowment policy.
Our country is rich enough to dc
any justice. No country Is rich enough
to do an injustice"
In conclusion the President said that
the future of the World War veterans
was insepArably bound up with the flu
ture of the whole people and that the
greatest service to both was TO admin
lister the affairs of the Government
with a view to the well being of the
whole Nation.
The matter under consideration"
said the President, IF of grave impor-
lance In itself; but of much graver i'm
portance is q whole tendency to open
the Federal Treasury to q thousand
purposes, many admirable In their in
tentions, but in which the proponents
fail or do not care to see that with such
beginnings many of them insidiously
consume more and more of the savings
and the labor of our people. In aggTe-
gate they threaten burdens beyond the
ability of our country normally to bear;
and of far higher Importance, each of
them breaks the barriers of self-re-
lance and self-support in our people"