davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22

It 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 un.
employed. That was a single.
minded, definite purpose. Every
unemployed veteran on the relief
rolls was included in that pro-
posed 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 two billion, two hun.
dred million dollars will in itself
bankrupt the United States. To-
day 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
government by and for the Amer
lean people and to put in it's place
government by and for political
coercion by minorities. We can
afford all that we need; but we
cannot afford all that we want.
I do not need to be a prophet
to assert t'lat if these certificates.
due in 1945, are paid in full to.
day, every candidate for election
to the Senate or to the House of
Representatives will in the near
future be called upon in the name
of patriotism to support general
pension legislation for all veter.
ans. regardless of need or age.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Reasons Listed
For Payment
Of Bonus

What are the reasons pre-
scented in this bill for this fun
damentaI change in policy?
They are set forth with care
in number of whereas"
clauses at the beginning of
the bill.
The first of these states rs
reasons for the cash payment
of these certificates at this
time; that it will increase the
purchasing power of millions of
the consuming public; that 1t
will provide relief for many who
are in need because of eco
nOmic conditions; and that it
will tighten the relief burden
of cities, counties and States.
The second states that pay
ment will not create any add,
tiOnal debt.
The third states that payment
now will be an effective method
Of spending money to hasten
recovery.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Continued from Page -


simply as can, the reasons which
compel me to give it my dis
approval.
Am l glad that the Senate by
coming here in Joint session gives
me the opportunity to give my
reasons in person to the other
House of the Congress.
AS to the right and the pro-
priety o. the President in address
ing the Congress in person, I am
very certain that have never
in the past disagreed. and will
never in the future disagree, with
the Senate or the House OF Repre-
sentatives as to the constitution
atty of the procedure. With your
permission, should like to con-
tinue from time to time to act
as my own messenger. =,
Eighteen years ago the United
States engaged in the World War.
A nation of 100 million people
was united in the purpose OF VIC
tory, The millions engaged IN
agriculture toiled to provide the
raw materials and foodstuffs for
our armies and for the nations
with whom we we're associated.
MANY other millions employed IN
industry labored to create the ma.
terials for the active conduct OF
the war on land and sea.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Adjusted Payments

Payments have been and are
being made only to veterans of
the World War and their depend
ents, and not to civilian workers
who helped to win that war.
In the light of our established
principles and policies let us con-
slider the case of adjusted COM
pensation. Soon after the close
of the war claim was made by
several veterans organizations
that they should be paid some
adjusted compensation for their
time in uniform. After q com.
plete and fair presentation of the
whole subject, followed by full de-
bate in the Congress of the
United States, a settlement was
reached in 1924.
This settlement provided for
adjustment in compensation dur
ing service by an additional al
lowance per day for actual Serv"
ice rendered. Because cash pay
ment was not to be made imme-
diately, this basic allowance was
increased by Is per cent and to
this was added at compound in
terest for twenty years, the whole
to be paid in 1945. The result
of this computation was that an
amount two and one-half times
the original grant would be paid
at maturity.
Taking the average case as an
example, the Government &C.
knowledged q claim of $40O to
be due. This $4OO, under the
provisions of the settlement, with
the addition of the Is per cent
for deferred payment and the
compound interst from that time
until 1945, would amount to the
sum of $1,000 in 1945. The vet
eran was thereupon given a Ger,
tificate containing an agreement
by the Government to pay him
this $1,000 in 1945 or to pay it
to his family if he died at any
time before 1945. In effect, it
was a paid-up endowment policy
in the average case for $1,000
payable in 1945, or sooner in the
event of death. Under the pro-
visions of this settlement, the
total obligation of $1,4O0,000, 900
in 1924 produced maturity or
face value of $500, 100000 in
| 1045
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Veterans Given
Large Relief
Benefits

Furthermore, unemployed vet
Grams as a group have benefited
more largely than any other
group from the expenditure Of
the great public works apprO-
priatiOn of $500 million dollars
made by the Congress in 1888,
and under which we are still
operating. In like manner the
new 4,OOO-milliOn-dOIlar wOrk-re-
lief act seeks to give employ
ment to practically every vet
eran who IS receiving relief.
From the Presidents OetC
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Trade Expanding

What are the reasons presented
in this bill for this fundamental
change in policy? They are set
forth with care in a number of
whereas" clauses at the begin
ming of the bill.
The first of these states as rea-
sons for the cash payment Of
these certificates at this time:
That it will increase the purchas-
ing power of millions of the con-
Stunning public; that it will provide
relief for many who are in need
because of economic conditions;
and that it will tighten the relief
burden of cities, counties and
States. The second states that
payment will not create any addi-
tional debt. The third states that
payment now will be an effective
method of spending money to has
ten recovery.
These are the enacted reasons
for the passage of this bill. Let
me briefly analyze them.
First, the spending Of this sum,
it cannot be denied, would result
in some expansion of retail trade,
But it must be noted that retail
trade has already expanded to a
condition that compares favor
ably with conditions before the
depression. However, to resort to
the kind of financial practice pro
vided in this bill would not I'M
prove the conditions necessary to
expand those industries in which
we have the greatest unemploy,
ment. The Treasury notes issued
under the terms of this bill we
know from past experience would
return quickly to the banks. we
know, too, that the banks have at
this moment more than ample
credit with which to expand the
activities of business and industry
generally. The ultimate effect OF
this bill will not in the long run
Justify the expectations that have
been raised by those who argue
for it.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Patriotism Lduded

Out of this vast army consisting
of the whole working population
OF the nation, four and three-quar-
ter million men volunteered or
were drafted into the armed forces
of the United States. One-half OF
them remained within our Amer
lean continental limits, the other
half served overseas; and of these
one million four hundred thou
sand saw service in actual com
bat
The people and the Govern
ment of the United States have
shown a proper and generous re-
gard for the sacrifices and patriot
ism of all of the four and three
quarter million men who were in
uniform, no matter where they
served.
At the outbreak of the war the
President and the Congress
sought and established an en-
tirely new policy, however, in
order to guide the granting OF
financial aid to soldier; and sail
ors. Remembering the unfortu-
nate results that came from the
lack of a veterans policy after the
Civil War, they determined that a
prudent and sound principle OF
insurance should supplant the un-
certainties and unfairness OF
direct bounties. At the same time,
their policy encompassed the most
complete care for those who had
suffered disabilities in service.
With respect to the grants made
within the lines of this general
policy, the President and the
Congress have fully recognized
that those who served in uniform
deserved certain benefits to which
other citizens of the Republic were
not entitled, and in which they
could not participate.
In line with these sound and
fair principles, many benefits
have been provided for veterans
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Temporary Benefit

Even the veteran who is on re-
lief will benefit only temporarily
by this measure, because the pay
ment of this sum to him will re-
move him from the group entitled
to relief if the ordinary rules of
relief agencies are followed. For
him this measure would give but
it would also take away. In the
end he would be the loser.
The veteran who suffers from
this depression can best be aided
by the rehabilitation of the coun-
try as a whole. His country with
honor and gratitude returned him
at the end of the war to the cit
izenry from which he came. He
became once more a member of
the great civilian population. His
interests became identified with
it's fortunes and also with it's mis-
fortunes.
Some years ago it was well said
by the distinguished senior Sen
ator from Idaho that "the soldier
of this country cannot be aided
except as the country itself is
rehabilitated. The soldier cannot
come back except as the people
as whole come back. The
soldier cannot prosper unless the
people prosper. He has now gone
back and intermingled and be-
come a part of the citizenship of
the country; he is wrapped up in
it's welfare or in its adversely.
The handing out to him of a few
dollars will not benefit him under
such circumstances, whereas it
will greatly injure the: prospects
of the country and the restoration
of normal conditions"
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22

mental question of sound finance.
To meet a claim of one group
by this deceptively easy method
of payment will raise similar de-
mands for the payment of claims
of other groups. 1t is easy to
see the ultimate result OF meet
ing recurring demands by the is
suance of Treasury notes. 1t in
vites an ultimate reckoning in
uncomfortable prices and in the
destruction of the value of saw
ings, that will strike most cruelty
those like the veterans who seem
to be temporarily benefited. The
first person injured by sky-rocket,
ing prices is the man on fixed
income. Every disabled veteran
on pension or allowance is on
fixed income. This bill faVors
the able-bodied vetera.l at the ex-
pense of the disabled veteran.
Wealth is not created. nor is 1t
more equitably distributed by
this method. A government, like
an individual, must ultimately
meet legitimate obligations out OF
the production of wealth by the
labor of human beings applied 10
the resources of nature. Every
country that has attempted the
form of meeting its obligations
which is here provided has SUI
tered disastrous consequences.
In the majority of cases print
ing press money has not been re-
tired through taxation. Because
of increased costs, caused by IN
flated prices, new issue has FOL
lowed new issue, ending in the ul'
innate wiping out of the currency
of the afflicted country. In few
cases. like our own in the period
of the Civil War, the printing OF
Treasury notes to cover an emery.
encv has fortunately not resulted
in actual disaster and collapse
but has, nevertheless. caused this
nation untold troubles, economic
and political, for a whole genera
| ton.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Fair Settlement

It is generally conceded that
the settlement by adjusted COM
pensation certificates made in
1924 was fair and it was accepted
as fair by the overwhelming
majority of World War veterans
themselves.
I have much sympathy for the
argument that some who re
manned at home in a civilian en-
ploy enjoyed special privilege and
unWarranted remuneration. That
is true-bitterly true-but a re-
currence of that type of war
profiteering can and must be pre-
vented in any future war.
I 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 and honorably
to do this, irrespective of class or
group. Rightly. we give preferen-
tial treatment to those men who
were wounded, disabled, or who
became ill as a result of war SER
vice. 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
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Relief for Veterans

The next reason in the first
whereas" clause is that present
payment will provide relief for
many who are in need because
of economic conditions. The Con-
gress has just passed an act to
provide work relief for such citi-
ZenS.
Some veterans are on the relief
rolls, though relatively not nearly
as many as is the case with non
veterans. Assume, however, that
such a veteran served iA the
United States or overseas during
the war; that he came through
in fine physical shape as most
Of them did: that he received
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22

and disregards the fact that this
contract obligation is due in 1945
and not today.
If I, as an individual, owe you,
an individual member of the Con-
gress, $1,000 payable in 1945, it
is not a correct statement for
you to tell me that I owe $1,000
today. AS a matter of practical
fact, if I put $3.50 into a Gov"
eminent savings bond today and
make that bond out in your name
you will get $1,000 on the due
date, ten years from now. My
debt to you today, therefore, can
not under the remotest possibility
be considered more than $3.50.
The final whereas" clause, stat
ing that spending the money is
the most effective means Of
Fastening recovery is SO i'll con-
sidered that little comment is
necessary. Every authorization
of expenditure by the Seventy"
third Congress in its session of
1888 and 1884, and every appro-
priation by the seventy-fourth
Congress to date, for recovery
purposes, has been predicated not
on the mere spending of money
to hasten recovery, but on the
sounder principle of preventing
the loss of homes and farms, Of
saving industry from bankruptcy,
of safeguarding bank deposits,
and most important of all-of
giving relief and jobs through pub
lie work to individuals and fam
lilies faced with starvation. These
greater and broader concerns Of
the American people have prior
claim for our consideration at
this time. They have the right
of way.
Sepurnte Problems
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
CASH PAYMENT NOW, He CALLS
A GIFT Of 81 ,6OO,000,000

selection of those employed in the
Civilian Conservation Corps.
Many States have likewise given
special bonuses in cash and veter-
ans preferences in State and local
public employment.
Furthermore unemployed vet
Grams as group have benefited
more largely than any other
group from the expenditure of the
great Public Works appropriation
of three billion three hundred
million dollars made by the Con-
greSs in 1888, and under which we
are still operating. In like manner
the new four billion dollar work
relief act seeks to give employ
ment to practically every veteran
who is receiving relief.
We may measure the benefits
extended from the fact that there
has been expended up to the end
of the last fiscal year more than
$1,000, 100000 for these items in
behalf Of the veterans of the
World War, not including sums
spent for home or work relief.
With our current annual expendi-
lures of some $450,000, 900 and the
liquidation of outstanding obliga-
tions under term insurance and
the payment of the service certi-
ficateS, it seems safe to predict
that by the year 1945 we will have
expended $13,500, 200, 900. This is
a sum equal to more than three
fourths of the entire cost Of our
participation in the World War,
and 10 years from now most of
the veterans of that war will be
barely past the half century mark.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Preference for Jobs

In addition to these direct bene'
fits, Congress has given recogni-
ton to the interest and welfare
of veterans in employment mat
tiers, through veteran preference
in the United States Civil Service,
in the selection of employees under
the Public Works Administration,
through the establishment of a
veterans employment unit in the
Department of Labor, and through
provisions favoring veterans in the
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
[Able-bodied Men Favored
At Expense of Disabled

It is easy to see the ultimate result Of meeting re-
curing demands by the issuance of Treasury notes. 1t
invites an ultimate reckoning in uncomfortable prices
and in tho destruction of the value of savings that will
strike most cruelty those like the veterans who seem to
be temporarily benefited The first person injured by
skvrocketing prices the fixed income Every
veteran on pension or allowance is fixed income
This bill favors the abeboded veteran at the expense
Of the disabled veteran.
From, the Presidents Veto Message
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22

an honorable discharge: that he
is today 80 years old and in full
possession of his faculties and
health; that like several million
other Americans he is receiving
from his Government relief and
assistance in one of many forms
I hold that that able-bodied
citizen should be accorded no
treatment different from that &C
corded to other citizens who did
not wear a uniform during the
World War.
The third reason given in the
first whereas" clause is that pay
ment today would tighten the re-
lief burden of municipalities.
Why, I ask, should the Congress
lift that burden in respect only
to those who wore the uniform?
Is it not better to treat every able
bodied American alike and to
carry out the great relief pro-
gram adopted by this Congress
in a spirit of equality to all?
This applies to every other unit
of government throughout the
nation.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Peril Seen In Precedent
Of Special Privilege

in honesty assert to you that to increase that
deficit this year by two billion two hundred million dol
lars will in itself bankrupt the United States Today the
credit of the United States is safe. But it cannot ulti
mately safe engage in policy of yielding to each
and all of the groups that able to enforce upon the
Congress claims for special consideration. To do so to
abandon the principle of government by and for the
American people and to put in its place by and
for political coercion by minorities We afford all
that we need but cannot afford all that want.
From the Presidents Veto Message.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22

pendents of the veterans provided
in the original plan. For the re-
naming period of 10 years they
will have lost this insurance.
This proposal, I submit, violates
the entire principle of veterans
benefits so carefully formulated
at the time of the war and also
the entire principle of the ad-
justed certificate settlement of
1924
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Debt Not Due Yet

The statement in this same Sec
ond whereas" clause that pay
ment will discharge and retire,
an acknowledged contract obi
CATION of the Government is. I
regret to say, not in accordance
with the fact. It wholly omits
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
MOI NOT 70 70 B #' DIE Until R7'1 ls45

equal privileges and equal rights
to enjoy life, liberty and the pur.
suit of happiness-no less and no
more.
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Question of Finance

The second whereas clause.
which states that the payment OF
certificates will not create an ad'
ditional debt, raises funda-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
SEPARATE Problems

There is before this Congress
legislation providing old age bene-
The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-05-22
Would Upset Budget

more.
The Washington times., 1935-04-29
z AIDES
GO ON TRIAL

The Sam Beard trial began be-
fore Justice Joseph w. Cox in Dis
trict Supreme Court today with a
half day of fencing between op-
posing counsel over selection Of
the jury.
Beard and IL others are charged
with conspiracy to violate the
gaming laws as result of a police
raid on all office suite in the
Mather Building last October
when telephone trunk line, said
to dispense racing information to
nearly 1000 subscribers, was dis
mantled. This system was oper-
ated by Beard and his codefend-
ants, the Government claims.
Indicted with Beard are William
Carroll. James T. Gallagher, Fred
H. Heck, George E. Hutchins, Mel
vile G.. Jacobs, Sidney Kaplan,
Lewis L. Levy, Fred J. Meese,
Timothy H. Noel. Joseph A. O'Cal'
laghan, John j. Sortori and Will
liam G.. Smith. George HarWood,
the fourteenth defendant, has not
been apprehended.
John w. FINELY and Roger
Robb are conducting the prosecu-
ton and the defendants are rep
resented by Attorneys John j..
Sirica and Martin F.. O'Donoghue.