Evening star., 1933-06-17
Desire for Budget Balance
Governs Pension Sentiment

Dispute between President Roosevelt
and members Of Congress on the scope
of financial relief for veterans discloges
a widespread conviction that 1t is neces-
sary to balance the Federal budget, and
that ex-service men, as well a. all other
citizens, would suffer II that were not
the aim Of the Government. Some argue
that If relief were confined to legitimate
cases of war-service disability, there
would be ample funds to take care OF
them.
"It will be quite impossible" advises
the Richmond News Leader, even by
the most Spartan economies, to balance
the budget without the proposed econ
omies. The loss Of confidence that
would follow failure in this would cost
the country far more than the amount
of increase estimated" The st. Joseph
Gazette feels that the country Is un-
alterably opposed to grants OF public
money at time when economy u
Governments greatest problem" The
San Jose Mercury Herald thinks that
"to unbalance the Presidents budget
at the end of the session would disrupt
his whole program" and the Norfolk
Virginian- Pilot charges that the oppo-
sition to the Executive "has stabbed at
the heart Of the only real hope OF PEN
sion reform that has been or viii be
offered" That paper voices belief that
any mistakes that might be made In
dealing with individual veterans would
be corrected.
"n Congress limits the Presidant in
his economy work." advises the Lincoln
State Journal, then 1t will have the
responsibility for producing more rev.
enue and that means new and heavier
taxes" Declaring that there is every
assurance that the President purposes
just and fair treatment for the veterans,
each on merit" the Fort Worth Star
Telegram contends that "the American
public-taxpayers at the head Of the
lists entitled to the same treatment"
The Oshkosh Daily Northwestern holds
that "to saddle another tax load on the
country as a whole Is not going to
make the reactions happy ones for the
Federal lawmakers" The Hartford
Times urges that IF Congress will not
support the President In his efforts to
balance the budget, then the Nation
should make 1t unm.Stakably clear that
the Chief Executive and not Congress
has general support"
The Asbury Park Evening Press AYERS
that "the average citizen is the forgot
ten man In Washington, so long as an
organized minority opposes his interests"
and asks: will the Nation continue
paying more than 1t can afford to vet
erans, and wreck its credit and overtax
its business, or will the ex-soldiers, most
of whom are reafiirming their patriotism
by expressing q willingness to do so,
accept a cut sufficiently large to balance
the budget?" The resulting increase IN
taxes is emphasized also by the Glendale
News-Press. Declaring that "the Amer
ican taxpayer should be better organized
and much moro vocal" the Cincinnati
Times-Star feels that "if he were as
persistent as the tax-spending groups,
he might have q chance"
"If Congress-" in the opinion Of the
Roanoke World-News, "decrees that
veterans Of Americas wars shall be
paid from the time they serve until
they die, as seems to be the dispo-
sition, it would appear that, along with
many other traditions which veterans
demands have thrown into the trash
heap, must 60 that Of depending upon
patriotism to provide volunteer armies
in time Of need, and taking ur in its
stead the European plan Of profess
SiOnAl armies, under which every man
serves his time In uniform and hence
forth becomes reserve soldier, minus
pension. The professional army is q
good thing for belligerents, bad thing
for peace lovers, but when America
must spend more for soldiers that were
than any two heavily armed powers
elsewhere spend for soldiers that were
and are, the limit Of financial support
appears well passed and the country
either must give up any thought Of
patriotic Army support when needed
and provide professional armed force |
of much greater size than now exists,
or turn definitely and strictly pacifist."
This Is the time for . barrage of
protests against unwarranted sxtrava-