Evening star., 1935-05-22
Text of Roosevelt Message Vetoing Bonus Bill

invite the Congress and the
veterans, with the great masses of
the American population, to join
with me in progressive efforts to
root a recurrence Of such injustice
out OF American life. But we
should not destroy privilege and
create new privilege at the same
time. Two wrongs do not make a
right.
The Herculean task Of the United
States Government today is to take
care that its citizens have the
necessities of life. We are seeking
honestly end honorably to do this,
irrespective of class or group.
Rightly, we give preferential treat
ment to those men who were
wounded, disabled. or who became
i'll as a result of war service.
Rightly, we give care to those who
subsequently have become i'll. The
others-and they represent the
great majority-are today in the
prime of life. are today in full
bodily vigor. They are American
citizens who should be accorded
equal privileges and equal rights to
enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit
OF happiness-no less and no more.
Claims Budget Fixed.
1t is important to make one more
point. In accordance with the
mandate of the Congress, our
budget has been set. The public
has accepted it. On that basis
this Congress has made and is
making its appropriations. That
budget asked for appropriations in
excess of receipts to the extent of
four billions of dollars. The whole
of that deficit was to be applied
for work relief for the unemployed.
That was a single-minded. definite
purpose. Every unemployed veteran
on the relief rolls was included in
that proposed deficit-he will be
taken care of out of it.
I cannot in honesty assert to
you that to increase that deficit
this year by 2,20O 0O0,0 will in
itself bankrupt the United States.
Today the credit of the United
States is safe. But it cannot ulti-
mately be safe If We engage in a
policy of yielding to each and all
of the groups that are able to en-
force upon the Congress claims for
special consideration. To do so is
to abandon the principle of gov
ernment by and for the American
people and to put in its place gov
ernment by and for political coer-
cion by minOrities. We can afford
all that we need; but We cannot af-
ford all that we want
I do not need to be a prophet to
assert that If these certificates, due
in l945, are paid in full today,
every candidate for election to the
Senate or to the House of Repre-
sentatives will in the near future
be called upon in the name of
patriotism to support general PEN
sion legislation for all veterans,
regardless of need or age.
Finally. invite your attention to
the fact that solely from the point
of view of the good credit of the
United States, the complete failure
Of the Congress to provide addi-
tional taxes for an additional ex-
penditure Of this magnitude would
in itself and by itself alone war
rant disapproval of this measure
l well know the disappointment
that the performance of my duty
in this matter will occasion to
many thousands of my fellow cit
liens. I well realize that some
who favor this bill are moved by
true desire to benefit the veterans
OF the World War and to contrib
ute to the welfare of the Nation.
These citizens will, however, real
lie that / bear an obligation as
President and as Commander in
Chief of the Army and Navy which
extends to all groups, to all cit
liens, to the present and to the
future I cannot be true to the
office I hold if l do not weigh the
claims of all in the scales of
equity. I cannot swerve from
this moral obligation.
Thinks Of Others.
I am thinking of those who
served their country in the Army
and in the Navy during the period
which convulsed the entire CIV
ilized world. l saw their seryics
at first hand at home and over
seas. I am thinking of those mil
lions of men and women who in.
creased crops. who made NUM-
tlons, who ran our railroads, who
worked in the mines, who loaded
our ships during the war period.
1 am thinking of those who died
in the cause of America here and
abroad, in uniform and out:
am thinking of the widows and
orphans OF all of them; I am
thinking of five millions of Amer
leans who, with their families. are
today in dire need. supported in
whole or in part by Federal, State
and local governments who have
decreed that they shall not starve,
am thinking not only of the past,
not only OF today, but of the years
to come. In this future of ours
it is Of first Importance that we
yield not to the sympathy which
we would extend to single group
or class by special legislation for
tnat group or class, but that we
should extend assistance to all
groups and all classes who in an
emergency need the helping hand
of their Government.
l believe the welfare Of the
Nation, as well as the future welfare
OF the veterans. wholly justifies my
disapproval of this measure.
Therefore, Mr.. Speaker, return,
without my approval, House of
Representatives bill No. 1896, pro-
viding for the immediate payment
to veterans of the 1945 face value
OF their adjusted service certificates.