The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-03-15
ROosevelt's Courage

President Roosevelt has run up
against the veterans lobby. It is the
real test of his power. This is the
significance Of his special economy
message TO congress and the lines
that are being drawn today in the
congressional cloakrooms.
If We bankrupt the government we
bankrupt the country. BY accumu-
lating in three years a government
operating deficit Of five billion dol
lars We are headed toward bank
ruptcy. That Is one cause OF the
banking chaos. It contributes to UNI
employment. It deepenS the depres-
sion. All of this Is set forth clearly
in the presidents message asking con-
gress for immediate action.
The chief cause of the annual OPP
Grating deficit is the ne-billion-
dollar veteran expenditure. It Is the
only large federal expense in which a
large cut Is possible. For three years
the Hoover administration and con-
gress tinkered with small economies,
but did not touch the big leak. FL
nally President Hoover proposed very
AAxOOCA 0VC SCtCA oA CVOAIVSAAACOs NOlle
gress refused. So the deficit con-
tinues.
President Roosevelt proposes to stop
It.
There are three very simple things
for the public to remember in this
fight for q large veterans cut
First-It Is not proposed to reduce
the care and benefits Of veterans in
jured in the war but rather to pro-
tect and insure the continuance of
adequate relief for that class of vet
Grams. The reduction would come
mainly out Of the appropriation for
So-called non-service connected dis
abilities. The possible saving, with
out any injustice to actual war suf-
ferers. is estimated at $500. 900 900 to
$3.50, 000, 900.
Second-This need for unusual
speed in making this cut is fixed by
the date on which about 100000, 900
Of government bonds fall due for pay
ment. That day is next Wednesday.
The government. far in debt. cannot
pay. It must borrow: that Is, It must
issue new bonds to take up the old.
The ability Of the government to
refund those bonds depends In large
part on cutting the operating deficit
which means the veterans cut.
While at Christmas time the govern
ment was able to borrow money for
less than one per cent, public con-
fidence had been shaken to the point
on the eve of the bank holiday that
the government had to pay more than
~ per cent for money.
The government cannot refund It's
bonds on favorable terms next We'd
neSday unless congress meanwhile
passes the Roosevelt emergency econ
omy law. Otherwise high interest
rates will compound the federal deficit
and debt and make 1t vastly more
difficult to climb out Of the depres-
sion.
Third-Long experience with many
sessions Of congress has proved that
since the civil war veteran Hobbies
can boost their class subsidies in good
times and prevent reduction Of those
subsidies in bad times. OF all the po-
litical Hobbies in our history, this one
has been the most powerful and con-
sistently successful.
Well organized from the backbone
precinct and on up to the capitol at
Washington. this lobby has existed as
q kind Of government within q gov
eminent. Congress has not prevailed
against it. Congress. apparently, can
not prevail against it.
At last we have q president with
courage enough to ask congress for
power to do what congress has failed
to do. Congress should be glad to
grant that power. Mr.. Roosevelt Is
willing to take the political coyase-
quences. We believe the president
will be indicated. Not only the gen.
eral public but q great many veterans
unselfishly see the justice and neces-
Sity of this cut,