The Raymer enterprise., 1920-12-30
SOLDIER BONUS
BILL IS HEAVY
SecRE1ARY HOUSTON eUoMlTe
EsTlMATE ON BONUS BILL
At e2,soo, 100000.
WANTsTAx BURDEN CUT
MAXIMUM COST OF VOCATIONAL
TRAINING AID GET At
s1eso,mo.o 900.
Wsaun Nsspse~ uassa ksss Dsvis.i

Washington, Dec. A-Appr0ximdte
y S2S00. .000. 900 was the estimate sub
mittsd by Secretary Houston of the
Treasury Department as the cost Of
carrying out provisions Of the soldiers
bonus bill.
The treasury secretary presented
lis estimate to the Senate finance
committee without comment, other
than to urge that no legislation be en-
acted which would lay an additional
burden on the nations finances. The
estimate was accompanied by figures
showing the cost Of carrying out any
one of the five optional provisions Of
the bonus bill provided all former serv.
Ice men chose single plan. The fig.
ures for the various plans ranged from
$1,342, 900, 900 for the adjusted pay
provisions, to $4,532, ,0O0, 900 for insur.
ance provisions.
The maximum possible cost Of the
vocational training aid and the form
and home development plans were
placed at $1.ss0, ,00O, 900 each. while the
secretary said the fifth provision, q
plan for land settlement, held so many
uncertainties that It was impossible to
estimate the possible expenditure.
Submission Of the estimated total
spst made an apparent impression up
% members Of the committee which
b considering the bonus bill as passed
BY the House at the last session. Mem
bers decliued to forecast the decision
Of the committee on the question Of re-
porting out the measure, but 1t was
recalled that Senator McCumber, Re
publican, Of North Dakota, stated at
the opening Of hearings on the bill
that Its passage would depend largely
on the state Of government finances,
and that Mr.. Houston had testified the
treasury with normal expenditures,
would have a deficit Of $2,100, 600, ,00O
for the year ending next June 80, and
q deficit Of $500, ,0O00 900 for the fol-
lowing twelve months.
During Mr.. Houston's testimony 1t
became increasingly evident that the
present treasury administration does
Dot desire either to advise or recon-
mend with respect to legislation pro-
viding for greater governmental ex.
pendItures. The secretary made plain
to the committee his thought In sub
hitting list of possible sources Of
new taxes In his annual report, say
Ing they were for the information Of
Congress and were In no sense more
than suggestions.
Reiterating his opposition to revival
Of the war finance corporation, Mr..
Houston declared the present sources
Of revenue were fast declining, and
added that he knew not where the
money was to come from to meet the
bonus payment should the bill be en-.
acted Into law.
DR.. T. s. Adams, treasury economist
and tax expert at the suggestion Of
Mr.. Houston, gave the committee q
complete statement Of revenue obtain.
abis from the various taxes suggested
to Congress In Mr.. Houston's annual
report. He pointed to many new
sources which might be utilized, but ex.
plained that much Of the question Of
raising a tax levy centered first in the
determination Of a revenue policy,
which only Congress could provide.
Dr.. Adams also suggested that ons
sf the greatest needs was a simplifi-
cation Of the revenue laws, state
ment concurred In BY Senator Smoot.
Republican. Of Utah, who said there
was an evident need for enactment Of
tax laws (which the average man can
understand"