The Washington times., 1920-04-08
BONUS BILL FAST
ASSUMING SHAPE
Tentative Drafts Provide for 81
a Day Grant and Loans
on Homes. =

substantial progress has been mAds
By subcommittees OF the N no
Means Committee In Ivs-'S..uhs
plans for a bill extending aid 10
service men In the war win Ger
many. Tentative drafts or lesisia-
ton to be recommended to the man
committee are being prepared lot 'hS
subcommittees. - .,o
A bonus 10 every soldier, sailor
and marine of 81 per diem for time
in service: 500, 600 900 corporation 10
issue bonds and lend money TO men
for buying homes in town or couh-
try, and an opportunity to secure No-
cational education viii in all IKE
iihood be the methods OF anoroi"s
aid.
What appears now TO be the best
source OF revenue Is tax OF per
cent on gross sales OF business, cou-
pied with which may be reaoJust-
ment of certain surtaxes on incomes
and repeal OF the excess prohts 'aNes'
For Loans Of $4,000.
Should the tentative plans be fol-
lowed, each soldier. sailor. and ma
rine will not only receive the bonus
but be. entitled to borrow money for
securing a home. He would De en-
titled to a loan of not exceeding
$4,000, the amount OF bonus to be de-
Quoted from the amount he m,ght
borrow If his bonus was s2oo 'at 81
per diem of $50 days., and he TOOK IT,
he would then be entitled TO borrow
only S3.7DO to apply on a home. Inc
amount borrowed Is to be paid back
to the United States on easy terms 10
be arranged in the legislation.
man could elect to borrow money TOT
an education.
The, plans for lending money for
home aid are being drafted py inte-
rior Department experts for the sub
committees dealing with that phase.
Two OF the subcommittee are under
stood to have collaborated and reach-
ed virtually unanimous agreement
on the outlines Of home aid provi-
sions before asking the Interior De-
pertinent to prepare new dratt.
To Divide u. $. Into Districts.
The corporation would probably d.
dived the country into districts some
thing similar to the Federal Land
Bank system. in order to enable the
work to be brought close TO the In
dividual soldiers.
It is anticipated that the full issue
of bonds for all men will not be made
at once, Uut WV
period as the mohey Is needed. N
comparatively small issue would be
required first. Republicans think IT
probably would not exceed $25, .0oO
The general outline of the home aid
lie legislation provides that loans may
be made:
For purchase of a farm or urban
Homestead. ~"
For purchase Of implements. ma
chinery. live stock for a farm home
stead.
For buildings and, other permanent
improvements.
Big Revenue Estimated.
Estimates have been made that a
gross sales tax would bring in from
Ga, 900, 900, 900 to $4,000, 100000 an
nually, the theory being that 1t would
be passed on to the public by business
concerns. A tax raising $4,000, 900. 900
would provide about $4,000, 10000 for
bonus requirements and an additional
81, 900, 900. 900 to replace the excess
profits tax, IL 1t should be repealed.
Taxes on sales were seriously con-
sidered for providing war revenue,
and probably would have been adopt
ed IL the war had continued.
Republicans think the methods pro-
posed for aiding the soldiers and rails
ing the money will avoid the neces-
sity Of Issuance now Of great num-
Der of bonds, which treasury officials
have advised against.