Evening star., 1935-05-19
A Veto in Person.

A Veto in Person.
President Roosevelt,s determination
to deliver in person his veto message
on the Patman "greenback" bonus
bill should set at rest any idea that
may have terminated in congress
sional minds that he would not Seri-
ously object if his veto were over
ridden. The President is taking
definite and courageous stand on this
inflationary bonus measure. That his
presence at a joint session Of the
House and Senate and his delivery
of the bonus veto will assure the
death of the Pstman bill is the Presi-
dents hope.
The drive for the payment of the
soldiers bonus, amounting to $780,
900 900, at a time when the Nation
is vastly in debt and its credit is
required to sustain the destitute and
needy, is i'll timed Disabled veterans
are generously cared for throughout
the land by the Government. Needy
veterans receive benefits under the
relief laws, and the veterans are given
preference in the matter of Govern
ment employment. The full face value
Of the bonus certificates held by the
veterans is not due and payable until
l945. That is the law. What the
veterans are demanding is an extra
bonus when they insist upon being
paid today.
The Patman measure, called a bonus
bill, is more than that. 1t provides
for an initiation Of the currency
through the operation of the printing
presses of the Government. Its
friends call ii bill for controlled lex
pansion" Of the currency. They do
not like the sinister sound of the word
imitation. Whether it is called ex-
pansion or imitation matters little.
The effect is the same 1t is the
opening wedge. Other demands to
pay obligations Of the Government
through fat currency will follow as
surely as night follows day. The
worker, paying vastly increased prices
for food and shelter under the inf1a-
tionary cheapening of money, and
with no comparative increase in his
wage, will be the first to suffer. With
him will suffer all those who have &C.
quired modest completeness upon which
to live and support their families.
There is not the slightest doubt Of
the seriousness Of the infiationary
problem. This bonus bill has been
seized upon by the friends Of imitation
as the lever with which to break
through. No one believes that they
will be content to rest there If they
succeed in this attempt. The veterans
are allowing themselves to be used.
For this temporary gain, they are will
ing to jeopardize the future.
The President is taking an un-
precedented course in going to Con-
gress to deliver his veto message him.
self. 1t Is warranted by the serious
ness of the issue. Furthermore, ef-
forts have been made to cause it
appear that the President would not
at heart be displeased by vote over
riding his veto. permitting the bill to
become law. The political-minded who
have urged such a course say that 1t
would in reality advantage the Presi-
dent and the Democratic Senators
and Representatives who must come
up for reelection next year. It is
specious argument. It's conSumna-
ton would place the Democratic ad-
ministration in an unfavorable light.
II the President by this latest move
is able to roll up a considerable vote
in opposition to the bonus bill it may
have the effect not only Of killing
the Patman bill but of hating effec-
tually other such measures If and
when they are presented during the
remainder of the present session Of
Congress. The inflationists and the
bonus advocates have announced that
they will fight on and that they hope
finally to get through a bill that will
become law before adjournment.
The latest threat to reach the
Capital is that another bonus army,
similar to that which marched on
Washington in 1882, is being organ
lied to come here if the Presidents
veto Of the Patman bill is sustained.
1t is doubtful, however, If the Demo-
cratic members of Congress who en-
couraged the bonus army to come
to Washington in 1882 will be so
eager to have such an army appear
in the Capital in 1885.