The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-04-03
BONUS SCHEME
Is SANCTIONED
Ways and Means Committee Ap-
proves Project With Details
Left to Sub b-Committees

Washington. April 2.-Sofdier relief
legislation with probable provisions for
a cash bonus, funds for whcih would
be raised by bond sale or a luxuries
tax, were approved today by the House
Ways and Means Committee 15 to 6.
The details will be worked out by sub
committees.
It seems very likely, however, that
whassyer sum IS determined apcn. the
payment will be deferred until twelve
months or perhaps two years from
now, when the treasury can better
stand the strain.
The debate in the House on the
resolution to turn the matter over to
the Ways and Means Committee which
was limited by a Republican gag"
rule to 40 minutes, was extremely
acrimonious and laden with Demo-
cratic charges that the Republican
Congress has shirked its responsibility
for extending a reward to the ex-serv-
ice men.
The Republicans. who are in control
of Congress, decided several months
ago not to take any steps at this
session to relieve the former service
men, and the sending of all the legis-
lation to the Ways and Means Com
mittee was adopted as the best means
to sidetrack it, the Democrats alleged
during the debate on the Monden reso-
luton.
The Republican Steering Committee
some months ago ordered the soldier
legislation sidetracked, Congressman
Cantrol1 of Kentucky, Democrat, de-
elared, and it was not until revolt
against this step was threatened by
the American Legion that anything at
al
Wide publicity was given at the
opening of the first session of Congress
controlled by the Republicans last May
to a bill introduced by House Leader
Mondell known as the soldier land
bill proposing to appropriate half
billion dollars to buy farms for the
soldiers This was acclaimed for a
while as the Republican party's rec
ognition of the reward due the serv-
ice men and hailed for a time as
wonderful vote getter.
Hearings were held on the bill and
it was reported in by the committee
and put on the House calendar. And
there it has remained for over six
months while the Democrats have
taunted the Republicans inaction with
charges that they were not living up
to their promises.
"
have been introduced in the Senate
and House to extend relief. But the
Republican e ers have adroitly
stifled them all 1t was found that TO
live up to the promises made would
seriously interfere with the great ap-
preparation -slashing economy record
the Republicans in the House are try
ing to establish as an argument for
votes next November. it has been
charged.
After introducing the resolution to
turn over all the soldier relief bills
to the Ways and Means Committee Mr.
Monden obtained a rule from the Rules
Committee for its passage without a
single word of debate. Chairman
Campbell of the Rules Committee in
sisted upon this gag" being applied
until he was reminded that the prom
ise had been made in committee that
twenty minutes a side would be given
for debating the rule.
The debate was both interesting and
startling
Soldier relief bills have been re-
ferred TO the Committee on Public
Lands, to the Committee on Ways and
Means, to the Commute on Bank
ing and Currency, to the Committee
on Education. TO the Committee on
Military Affairs, and to tn ~n--'t-
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