Evening star., 1932-09-15
Rate by Mail-Payable in Advance.
MARYLAND and Virginia.
An Other States and Canada.
Gov. Roosevelt and the Bonus.


Having vetoed one bonus bill, as both
of his Republican predecessors IN the
White House had done before him; nav
ing gone to Detroit last year personally
to head off a threatened Legion stam-
pede for another bonus bill; having let
it be known last Spring that he would
veto the bonus bill If it passed Con-
gress. and having recommended Ger
tain specific cuts in veterans Dement'S
there was no real necessity for the
Presidents firm reiteration of opposi-
ton to the bonus bill as portrayed in
his statement published in the news
papers today Everybody knew how he
stood. Everybody knew that he would
exercise all of the influence OF his OIL
fee to prevent further bonus legisla-
ton.
But his statement, having been
made. serves two purposes.
First it Is an admirable summation
of the reasons why further bonus lesls-
lation at this time is unthirkable from
the standpoint of those who have the
whole country's welfare at heart. Inc
snpropriation of the sum of S2,25O,-
600 00Oo-representing an obligation that
does not mature for another thirteen
wears and which at maturity Will De
available only through accruals OF IN
terest compounded annually on sums
now being laid aside each year-Would
reouire resort to one of three ex-
pedients (a) imposition OF a tax our-
den so heavy that it would prove
drain on the resources of every family
and every business in the country. (b'
Treasury borrowing that would threaten
impairment of the national credit at
time when national credit is the funda-
mental basis on which rests hope OF
economic recovery, Co starting the
printing presses for issuance OF nat
money, an act of moral bankruptcy
that would "cause the collapse OF all
confidence in our Government and
would bring widespread ruin to the en-
tire county and to every one OF our
citizens" And such methods would be
utilized to assist relatively small pro-
portion of the Nations population at a
time when the population as whole
must be assisted.
Second, the Presidents statement be-
comes another of several recent devel-
opments that by contrast serve 10 en-
phasize the silence on the bonus ques-
ton thus far maintained by Gov.
Roosevelt. Norman Thomas, the Social
ist candidate, has twice within the last
few days clearly enunciated his opposi-
ton to a bonus for all ex-soldlers'
though he may draw some sort OF a
line in favor of the unemployed vet
eran: former Gov. Smith in his Sat-
urday Evening Post article has de-
manded that candidates for high pub
lie office speak their minds on the aues-
tion. a challenge to which the Presl-
dents statement might be conceived as
a direct answer; Legionnaires. as well
as individuals and newspapers OF ooth
narties. have asked the Governor to
state his views on the bonus.
The bonus issue has not been
partisan issue. A Republican-controlieo
Congress enacted the original measure
over the veto of President Coolidge ana
another Republican-controlled Congress
amended the bonus act to permit Dor
rowing up to half the face value Oh
certificates, and did it over the veto
of President Hoover. A Democratic
House passed the bill in the last ses-
sion of Congress to pay the bonus now
but the bill met defeat at the hands
of a coalition vote in the Republican,
controlled Senate. The Democratic
party would not assume partisan re-
sponsibility for the bonus agitation In
the last session, although it was LED
by Democrats.
Gov. Roosevelt will find. however
that unless he declares himself on the
bonus question the bonus will for the
first time become partisan issue. his
silence. in the circumstances, Wouio
make it So If he believes in lmme-
date cash payment of the bonus ne
should say so. If he does not so believe
and remains silent, he will not be true
to those high standards which the
presidential candidate of great poilti-
cal party should be expected to
maintain.