The Washington times., 1920-03-12
SOLDIER BONUSMAY
START PARTY FIGHT
Democrats Lining Up Solhly
Against Issuance OF Bonds
BY United States.

ment would place the present Con-
gress In a position OF being forced
TO Increase taxation TO pay bonuses
to service men OF the world war"
Chairman Fordney OF the House
Ways and Means Committee. having
soldier aid legislation in charge, said
today
81 see an element OF politics In
their lamentations" Chairman
Fordney continued. THE committee
had not been driven from further
confederation OF the Issuance OF bonds
by the recomme ndations OF Secretary
Houston and Governor Harding. OF
the Federal Reserve Board. and their
statements as to the probable enect
OF bond issue on the nnancial
structure OF the nation"
The question OF soldier bonus legis-
lation may be thrown into party
ccntroversary. according to members
OF the committee. Republican mem
bers charge the Democrats are OBJ
posed to granting bonuses. The
Democrats are lining up solidly
against a bond issue, following the
recomme dations of the Secretary or
the Treasury.
THE testimony of yesterday should
remove the possibility OF the country
| floating a bond issue to pay the
bonus" Representative Garner. Dem
| ccrst, OF Texas. said today. Garner
| is the only member OF the committee
who has announced that he opposes
| the issuance Of a cash bonus TO the
former service men.
mo one can tell what the condition
of the finances OF the country VIII be
| in a year or two years" Congressman
Fordney declared. The opinion OF
Treasury officials as to the wisdom OF
| a bond issue is the ouinion OF the In
diyidual There are individuals on
| the committee who have their IDEAS
on the question. and will press theirs
Just as strongly as the Secretary has
expressed his.
1--WE have the recommendation OF
| former Secretary of the Treasury Nc
Adoo that the country float a Dond
| issue OF 81 500. 600, 900 to reduce tax
| alton. II il would be possible for the
Government to float this issue to re-
duce taxation, it certainly would not
be more harmful to float IT to pay the
soldiers" Chairman Fordney said.
The committee will continue It's
hearings for several days. granting
members OF Congress who have sub
mitted bills for bonus payments OPP
portunity to appear in behalf Of their
measures.
Against Land Bills.
Congressman Benham. Republican,
Indiana. told the committee today he
was opposed to efforts made by sew
cral members Ito tack land develop
ment plans to soldier aid legislation
II am in favor OF retaining the
lands Of the West, but do not believe
advocates of this should use the SOL
diers as means of acquiring it,
Benham said.
Lieut.. Col. Frank Il. Kecch. of New
York. formerly with the inspector
generals department, opposed the is
suance OF a bonus.
The average soldier did not lose
anything by serving overseas" Keech
said.
Eighty per cent of the Canadian
army spent their money in two weeks,
according to figures given me" keech
said.
How do you know this?" Chairman
Fordney asked. Isn't your estimate
only guess"
Used To Catch Votes.
1T is my information" kccch con-
tinucd. Il believe the bonus is I'M
necessary. The question Of the binus
influence members of Congress. Men
will support the bonus TO get votes"
members of Congress" Chairman
Fordney said.
Il did not mean it as such" Kcech
said.
Members OF Congress arc influ-
cnccd by the will OF the people and
| rightly So" Congressman Garner OF
Texas. said.
II consider it an insult for any per-
son to say that l would spend "
900 100000 of the public money 10 be
elected to Congress" Fordney said.
III the chairman continues to IN
tcrrupt witnesses and endeavorh to
suppress freedom of speech, l Will
ask the committee to overrule him.
Congressman Rainey, Democrat, ILL.,
nois, said.
$1,000 MiIIionaIres.
II believe the witness should be
cross-examincd as to his reasons and
attitude, Congressman Frear, Re
| publican, Wisconsin. said.
what was your salary before and
after the war;" Frear asked.
81 do not wish to give that keech
said.
You arc taking your view of con-
ditions in Wall Street and financial
New York. Do you know OF boys who
| lost all by going to war, or is yours
| a local observation" Frear asked.
prom conditions in New York
city" keech said.
you are Influenced in this matter.
as banker and broker, because 1t
| will decrease the price OF bonds, are
you not?" Frcar asked.
That is one of the reasons l oppose
it," keech said.
There were $4,000 milloinaires
made during tho war. Would you be
| in favor OF taxing those who made
money out of the war?' Representa-
tive Rainey asked.
"Do you,not think we have been
heavily taxed already?". keech re-