The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-26

Virgil Kirkland, Gary, Ind, foot Shcrin Burney Maxwell. left. on the at Valparaiso, Ind, where Kirkland Dravcs, 18-ycar-old high school stu her at a ''gin orgy."
 with war-risk insurance and the ad- justed compensation, these services now total an annual expenditure of approximately $500, 100000 and un- der existing laws will increase to $SO0,000,00O per annum in very few years for World war veterans alone. A total of five thousand mill lions of dollars has been expended upon such services since the war.
 Our country has thus shown it's sense of obligation and generosity, and its readiness at all times to aid those of it's veterans in need. I have the utmost confidence that our ser vice men would be amongst the first to oppose policy of government as- sistance to veterans who have prop erty and means to support them selves, for service men are as de- voted to the welfare of our country in peace as in war and as clearly foresee the future dangers of em- barking on such a policy. It could but create resentments which would ultimately react against those who should be given care.
 It is argued that the distribution of the hundreds of millions of dol lars proposed by this bill would stimulate business generally. We can not further the restoration of prosperity by borrowing from some of our people, pledging the credit of all of the people, to loan to some of nf money. If the exercise of these rights were limited to expenditure upon necessities only, there would be no stimulation to business. The theory of stimulation is based upon the anticipation of wasteful expendi- ture. It can be of no assistance in the return of real prosperity. If this argument of proponents is cor rect, we shoulud make government loans to the whole people.
 It is represented that this measure merely provides loans against fu- ture obligation and that, there, it will cost the American people noth- ing. That is an incomplete state ment. A cost at once arises to the people when instead of proceeding by annual appropriation the govern ment is forced to secure huge sum by borrowing or otherwise, especial ly in the circumstances of to-day when we are compelled in the midst of depression to make other large borrowings to cover deficits and re- funding operatoins.
 An increased rate of interest which the government must pay upon all long-term issues is inevitable. It imposes an additional burden of in- terest on the people which will ex- tend through the tendency to in- crease the interest rates which every state and municipality must pay in their borrowing for public works and Improvements, as well as the rate which industry and business must pay. There is Q cost to some on through the retardation of the speed of recovery of employment when government borrowings divert the savings of the people from their use by constructive industry and commerce. It imposes great charge upon the individual who loses such increased employment or continues unemployed. To the vet eran this is a double loss when he has consumed the value of his cer- tificate and has also lost the oppor- tunity for greater earnings. There is a greater cost than all this; it is step toward government aid to those who can help themselves. These direct or indirect burdens fall upon the people as a whole.
 The need of our people today is a decrease in the burden of taxes and unemployment, yet they (wno include the veterans) are being steadily forced toward higher tax levels and lessened employment by such acts as this. We must not for get the millions of hard-working families in our country who are striving tc pay the debts which they have incurred in acquiring homes and farms in an endeavor to building protection for their future. They, in the last analysis, must bear the burden of increasing government aid and taxes. It is not the rich who suffer. When we take employment and taxes from our people it is the poor to safer.
 There is very serious phase of this matter for the wives and chill dren of :eterans and to the future security tf veterans themselves. Each of these certificates is an en- dowment insurance policy. AEy
  gether with it's interest, will be au- tomatically deducted from the value of the certificates in case of death or upon maturity. No one will deny that under the pressures or allure ments of the moment, many will bor- row against these certificates for other than absolutely necessary pur- poses. The loss to many families means the destruction of the one safeguard at their most critical time. It can not be contended that the interests tf the families of our country are conserved by either cashing or borrowing upon their life-insuran nee policies.
 have no desire to present mone- tary aspects of the question except so far as they affect the human as- poets. SIrely it is a human aspect toll, including veterans, burden of those who by position and prop erty can care for themselves. It ,s a human aspect to incur the danger of continued or increased unemploy- ment. l. is human aspect to de- prive women and children of pro- tection by reckless use of an en- downment policy. Our country is rich enough to do any justice. Nc country is rich enough to do an in- justice.
 The patriotism of our people is not a material thing. It is a spiritual thing. We can not pay for 1t with government aid. We can honor those in need by our aid. And 1t is