The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-05-22
as my own messenger"
Nation Was Generous

aS my own I1eSSeuSS1s
Nation was Generous
He reviewed benefits accorded
American World war veterans.
1.-THE President and congress,
he continued, have fully recog-
nized that those who served in I'M
form deserved certain benefits to
which other citizens Of the republic
were not entitled"
The nation has been generous
and liberal, Mr.. Roosevelt argued
in aiding dependents Of veterans
and former soldiers who are dis
abled.
Unemployed veterans benefited
most, the argument ran, from the
1888 PwA appropriation and Mr.
Roosevelt expects the 1895 work rs-
lief act to provide a job for virtu-
ally every veteran now on the
dole.
$500, 600, 600 Spent on Vets
Up to last June 30, the President
said, more than $7,800,000,000 has
been spent on veterans benefits
and for their relief and ut seems
safe to predict that by the 1916
we WILL uAV0 SAPSAuo~ S@Ss~NSs
900, 000."
Mr.. Roosevelt explained that the
compensation certificates which
congressional majorities would
cash are not due. The certificates
will represent two-and-one- hall
times the original grant when their
1916 maturity date arrives.
1.-THE bill before me provides TOT
the immediate payment OF the 1876
value of the certificates, Mr..
Roosevelt continued. "It means
paving $1,000, 100000 more than
the present value of the certifi-
| Gates.
Destroys Insurance
'Tt destroys the insurance pro-
lection for the dependents OF the
veterans. For the remaining per-
iod Of 10 years they will have lost
this insurance.
"This proposal, submit, violates
the entire principle of the veterans
benefits"
Forecast ON Veto
Washington, May %, - (UP) -
Latest forecast is for the house to
override and the senate to sustain
Mr.. Roosevelt.
Bonusites foresaw defeat in the
senate and talked of placing tine
issue again before Mr.. Roosevelt
at this session, perhaps in alter
native proposals.
No president has ever carried 70
| congress a veto challenge as MI
Roosevelt did shortly after noon
Every postwar president, In turn,
has vetoed q bonus bill or Other
extraordinary veterans benefits.
Huey Long Squelched
| The bonus battle approached
climax in Senator -Huey p. Longs
one-man 5-hour filibuster to pre-
| vent the Joint session of congress
before which Mr.. Roosevelt sought
to appear. A non-partisan senate
coalition smashed the filiouster
| last night with a lop-sided vote
singing with rebuke to Long.
Unaccustomed forces have played
on politics as the bonus dispute
developed. Twice Father Charles
liz. Couglin pleaded with his nation
wide audience and with Mr.. Roose-
Welt for cash bonus payment. once
an avalanche Of $4,000 kilograms
to congress was loosened by his
words.
Again in New York last night
the priest protested the impending
veto. Veterans organizations sum-
moned their followers to the tele-
graph offices. One million mes
sages were ordered to the White
House. But that figure was not
approached.
Congress convened at noon. The
senate Joined the house shortly
afterward to hear Mr.. Roosevelt at
1880 D. M, EST. Two-by 1.-TWO.
senator's proceeded through the
long capitol corridor to the hall
of the house of representatives
where the President stated his Wig
orous anti-Patman bill decision.
-Four Times Rejected
Once during the presidential
campaign, twice last year and
again in the current bonus contest.
Mr.. Roosevelt has rejected pro-
posals for immediate cash payment
of veterans compensation certifi-
Gates.
But Representative Wright Pat
man, democrat, Texas. rallied the
bonus and currency initiation blocs.
They rammed through by a vote OF
S1s to 30 in the house and IS to
SO in the senate the famous house
bill No. /. which the Texan has
been offering since the session OF
1882 when a bonus army picketed
the Capitol and was driven from
Washington by United States SOL
diers.
The New Deal margin OF prob
able victory Is small at best.
House leaders predict the bonus
bill will be over-ridden there -
probably today -- with maximum
OF SO votes beyond the two-thirds
majority required.
senate Decides Move
The issue will DO decided In the
senate where odds favor Mr.
Roosevelt. Democratic leaders
counted a minimum Of 10 senate
votes reasonably certain to sur.
tain the veto. A minimum OF ss