Montana labor news., 1935-05-30
A CONGRESSMAN
COMMENTS
CONTINUED from page y

(Continued from page ~
preached the rostrum and in a calm,
dispassionate voice set forth his argu-
mentation. As usual his speech was
masterful, but evidently did not con-
vince 322 Congressman who voted to
override his veto.
Members expected sharply to that
paragraph wherein the President said
"His country with honor and graft
tude returned him at the end Of the
war to the c%itizenry from which he
came. He became once more a mem
Der Of the great civilian population"
Some interpreted this, fairly or I'M
fairly, as an insinuation by the Presi-
dent that the Government of the
United States was generous in giving
them citizenship. Members criticized
the statement that the soldier who
risked all in his country's defense was
entitled to no more or no less than
any other citizen. In many instances
soldiers returned crippled, manned and
blind, without their remunerative po-
%sitions, vacated % defend their coun-
try. He served with soldiers in the
World War who received more than
he for his services. The country owes
them what it promised and it ought to
be paid now when most needed.
The President sought to distinguish
between a debt due and payable at a
future date and the obligation which
the Government of the United States
has admitted it owes to the ex-service
men. The two are clearly distinguish
able. The Government debt to the ex-
service men existed at the end OF the
war. The veteran had to wait until
its grateful Government saw fit to pay
that debt. If l owe you 100000 now,
| cannot say to you, but you must wait
until l945 until l can pay you. Es-
pecially while the Government is dis
charging obligations to others more
fortunately situated banks, insurance
companies, railroads, etc. We didn't
wait until 1915 to adjust the losses that
the railroads supposedly suffered. Why
keep American youth who risked life it.
self in defense of their land waiting?
The President did not mention that
since the ex-service men were au-
thorized to borrow on their adjusted
service certificates from the banks,
compounding the interest the remain
ing amount owing the soldier will be
consumed by the time the debt is due
and payable. It would, therefore, be
payable to the banker instead of the
soldier.
The most c%leverly worded part OF the
Presidents speech was with reference
to the budget, and more than one
Congressman wondered how he would
handle that argument. He has always
maintained that payment of benefits
to the soldier endangers the sound
credit Of the Government. He now
maintains it could not destroy the
credit Of the Government and argues
in the fact Of the deficit existing
''The whole Of that deficit was to be
applied for work relief for the unem-
ployed." And again, Every unem-
ployed veteran on the relief rolls was
included in that proposed deficit"
Most significant is the fact that the
President holds tenaciously to the view
that money already printed and bor-
rowed from the bankers to whom we
pay outrageous rates Of interest is
more valuable and is safer than money
printed by the Government itself direct
without borrowing from the bankers
and printing beautiful bonds upon
which we pay unnecessary and need
less rates Of interest.
The Congress as a whole was amazed
by the Presidents maneuver in ac-
c~entuating his veto action by personal
delivery. One remarkable statement
stands out in his message which I can
not pass without hearty approval. He
scored those who enjoy Special priv
ilege and unwarranted enumeration"
during wartime, evidently referring to
the dollar-a-year-men. He wisely adj
ded: "But a recurrence Of that type
Of war profiteering can and must be
prevented in any future war" The
Senate sustained the veto the vote
being 81 to override and 40 to sus-
tain. No, that is not wrong. It takes
two-thirds to override a Presidents
veto.