Evening star., 1934-03-28
President Explains Veto
Message Gives Rooseyelfs Reasons for Refusing
to Sign Federal Pay Restoration and
Veterans Relief Measure.

The text of President Rooeevelt's
message vetoing the independent Of
fees appropriation bill follows:
To the House of Representatives.:
I return herewith without my ap-
proval H. r. 6663, entitled "An act
making appropriations for the execu-
tive Office and sundry independent
executive bureaus, boards, commits
sions and Offices for the fiscal year
ending June 80, 1885, and for other
purposes" I am impelled to do this
on a number Of grounds, any one
of them sufficient to require dis
approval of the bill.
In March, 1888, the Congress
passed, and I signed, AN act to
maintain the credit of the United
States Government" This law be-
came one Of the principal pillars Of
national recovery for the clear rea-
son that for the first time in many
years the recurring annual expenses
for the maintenance of the Gov
ernment were brought within the
current revenues of the Government.
1t is true that very large but wholly
distinct funds are being dispensed
daily for emergency purposes. but
these funds are going directly to the
purpose of saving farms, saving homes
and giving relief and employment to
millions of our fellow citizens. They
are homecoming in nature. while
the increases contemplated in this
bill are continuous and permanent.
Furthermore, the budget submitted
by me to the Congress on January 4.
1884, laid down a definite program of
expenditures and definite estimate
of receipts. Because of the emer-
gency expenditures for relief and
unemployment the expected total
deficits this year and in 1885 are
necessarily large, but at the same
time a program for a completely bal
anced budget by June 80. 1896. was
determined upon as a definite OBJ
jective.
This bill exceeds the estimates sub
mitted by me in the sum of S228,-
100000. I am compelled to take note
of the fact that in creating this
excess the Congress has failed at
the same time to provide similar
sum by additional taxation. More
over. to the extent that the amount
of money appropriated by the Con-
gress is in excess of my budget esti-
mates, and in the absence of pro-
vision for additional revenues, there
must be a decrease in the funds
available for essential relief work.
Sympathy for U. S. Workers.
This bill increases the compensa-
ton for employees of the United
States Government sl25 100000 ever
my budget estimates for this pur-
pose. I have great sympathy for
the employees, but I cannot forget
that millions of American citizens
are today still without employment,
and reduction in the compensation
of Federal employees has been and
still is on the average less than the
reduction in compensation that has
been patiently endured by those citi-
zens not IN the employ Of the United
States Government
Let me be specific. This bill makes
a portion of the restored compensa-
tion retroactive to February /. 1894.
1 believe it unwise to establish this
precedent, and 1 cannot overlook the
serious administrative difficulties in
volved in paying back pay to indi-
viduals, many of whom are no longer
in the employ of the Government.
The bill also contains several dis
criminatory provisions, such as pay
ing employees in some departments of
the Government 48 hours pay for 40
hours work.
In submitting the budget esti-
mates last December I recommended
compensation restoration of 5 per
cent for the next fiscal year. The
cost of living seems to be rising
slowly. The present authority is not
responsive enough to changing con-
ditions. I. therefore. shall be glad
to confer with the Congress on i'm
proving the methods of restoring
Federal pay SO that in actual prac-
tice the pay will keep ahead of the
cost of living increases instead of lag
ging behind. Adjustments can we'll
be made Immediately on the pass
age of appropriate legislation, fol-
lowed by more frequent adjustments
in the future.
Against Special Glasses.
come now to the provisions in
this act relating to World War vet
erans. First let me speak of prin-
ciples. Last October I said this to
the American Legion Convention:
The first principle, following in
evitably from the obligation of citi-
zens to bear arms, is that the Gov
ernment has responsibility for and
toward those who suffered injury
or contracted disease while serving
in its defense.
THE second principle is that no
person, because he wore a uniform,
must thereafter be placed in a spe-
cial class of beneficiaries over and
above all other citizens, The fact of
wearing a uniform Goes not mean
that he can demand and receive from
his Government a benefit no other
citizen receives. 1t does not mean
that because person served in the
defense of his country. performed a
basic obligation of citizenship, he
should receive pension from his
Government because of a disability
incur ed after his service had termi-
mated. and not connected with that
service.
''It does mean, however, that those
who were injured in or as result
of their service are entitled to re-
ceive adequate and generous compen-
sation for their disabilities. It does
mean that generous care shall be eX-
tended to the dependents of those
who died in or as a result of service
to their country
Confident of Support.
am very confident that the
American people. including the over
whelming majority of veterans them
selves. approve these principles and
in the last analysis will support