The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-02-26

tOQay IN common With many others
OF people. These. like the others
are being provided the basic neces-
stiles Of life by the devoted commit
tees in those parts Of the country
affected ~ the depression or drought.
The government and many employers
are givinE preference to veterans in
employment. Their welfare is and
should be a matter of concern to our
people. Inquiry indicates that such
care Is being given throughout the
country. AMI 1t also indicates that
the number of veterans in need of
such relief Is a minor percentage Of
the whole.
Utility Exaggerated
The utility Of this legislation as re-
lief to those In distress is far less
than has been disclosed. The popu-
lar assumption has been that as the
certificates average $1,000 then each
veteran can obtain $500 by way Of a
loan. But this Is only al average,
ond more than one-half will receive
less than this amount. In fact over
100000 msn will be able to borrow
less than $500, and of these owe 200.-
coo will be able to borrow only an
average Of SIS. Furthermore there
are 100000 veterans whose certifi-
Gates have been issued recently who
under the proposed law will have no
loan privilege until their certificates
are two years old. It is therefore
urgent in any event that local COM
mittees continue relief to veterans,
but this legislation would lead such
local committees and employers to
assume that these veterans have been
provided for by the federal treasury,
and thereby threatens them with
greater hardships than before.
The breach Of fundamental princi-
PIE in this proposal is the requirement
Of the federal government to provide
an enormous sum Of money to a vast
majority who are able to care for
themselves and who are caring for
themselves.
Among those who would receive
the proposed benefits are included
387. 900 veterans and 400, 900 depend
entS, who are already receiving some
degree of allowance or support from
the federal government. But in addi-
ton to these, 1t provides equal bene-
fits for scores Of thousands of others
who r in the income-tax paying
class, and for scores Of thousands who
are holding secure positions in the
federal, state, and local governments
and in every profession and industry.
I know that most of these men do
not seek these privileges, they have
no desire to be presented to the
American people as benefiting by a
burden put upon the whole people,
and I have many manifestations from
veterans on whom the times are bear
ing hardly that they do not want to
be represented to our people as q
group substituting special privilege
for the idealism and patriotism they
have rejoiced in offering to their
country through their service.
It is suggested as a reason for max
ing these provisions applicable to all
veterans, that we should not make
public distinction between veterans in
need and the others who comprise
the vast majority lest We characterize
those deserving help as a pauper
class. On the contrary, veterans In
need are and should be a 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.
Principle Is Accepted
The principle that the nation
should give generous care to those
veterans, who are i'll, disabled, in need
or in distress, even though these dis
abilities do not arise from the war,
has been fully accepted by the nation.
Pensions or allowances have been
provided for the dependents of those
who lost their lives in the war; al
lowances have been provided to those
who suffered disabilities from the
war; additional allowances we're
passed at the last session of congress
to all the veterans whose earning
power at any time may be perman-
emily impaired by injury or illness;
free disqualification Is available not
only to those suffering from the re-
suits Of var but to large numbers of
temporarily Ill. Together with war
risk insurance and the adjusted COM
pensatton, these services now total
an annual expenditure Of approxi-
mately $500, 000, 900 and under exist
ing laws will increase to $780, 900 900
per annum In q very few years for
World war veterans alone. A total
NJ five fhn,ySorA rojlIiore - l~11o~c
has been expended upon such serv-
ices since the war.
Our country has thus shown its
sense Of obligation and generosity,
and its readiness at all times to aid
those OF its veterans in need. I have
the utmost confidence that our serv-
Ice men would be amongst the first
to oppose a policy Of government as
sistance to veterans who have prop
erty and means to support themselves,
Tor service men are as devoted to the
welfare Of our country in peace as
n war and as clearly foresee the fu-
ture dangers Of embarking on such q
policy. It could but create resent
ments which would ultimately react
against those who should be given
care
1t is argued that the distribution
OF the hundreds Of millions of dollars
proposed by this bill would stimulate
business generally. We can not
further the restoration of prosperity
by borrowing from some Of our peo-
pie, pledging the credit Of all the peo-
pie, to loan to some Of our people
who are not in need of the money. II
the exercise of these rights were
limited to expenditure upon necessi-
ties only, there would be no Stimula-
ton to business. The theory of
stimulation is based upon the anti
cipation " wasteful expenditure. It
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 people.
Statement Is Incomplete
1t is represented that this measure
merely provides loans against a fu-
ture OBLIGATION and that therefore