New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1920-12-31
SOLDIER BONUS
BILL IS HEAVY
SECRETARY HOUSTON SUBMITS
ESTIMATE ON BONUS BILL
AT q, 300, ooo, 900.
WANTSTAX BURDEN CUT
MAXIMUM COST OF VOCATIONAL
TRAINING AID SET AT
$3.50, ooo, 900.
Western Newspaper Inion News StrElr }

Washington, Dec. 2S.-ApproXimate-
~ $500, oOo,OOU was the estimate sub
mitted by Secretary Houston of the
Treasury department as the cost of
carrying out provisions of the soldiers
bonus bill.
The treasury secretary presented
his 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 lay figures
showing the cost of carrying ont any
one of the five optional provisions of
Tn" bonus bin provided all former serv-
IL" men chose Il single plan. The fig
ures for the various plans ranged from
Sl,3i2,oO0.U0 for tie adjusted pay
provisions, to si,532,0O0,OU for insur-
ance provisions.
The maximum possible coSt of the
vocational training aid and the form
and home development plans were
placed ut 81 .sS0,Uo0,OOO each. while the
secretary said the fifth provision, a
plan for land settlement, held so many
uncertainties that it was impossible to
estimate the possible expenditure.
Submission of the estimated total
cost made an apparent impression up
on members of the committee which
is considering the bonus hill rs passed
by the House at the last session. Mem
beers declined 10 forecast the decision
of the committee ON the question of re-
porting out the measure, but it was
recalled that Senator McIumher, Re-
publican, of North Dakota, stated ut
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 Il deficit of ~, lo0.o00,OO0
for the year ending next june 20, and
a deficit of Sl.500,000 ,0OO for the fol-
lowing twelve months.
During Mr.. Houston'S Testimony ii
became increasingly evident that the
present treasury administration does
not desire either 10 advise or rccom-
mend with respect To Legislation pro-
yiding for greater governmental eX-
penditures. The secretary made plain
10 the committee his thought in sub
hitting II 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
az 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. r. $. Adams. treasury economist
and tax expert, M the suggestion of
Mr.. Houston, gave the committee n
complete statement of revenue obtain
able from the various taxes suggested
10 Congress in Mr.. Houston's annual
sources which might be utilized, but ex-
planned that much of the question of
raising n TAX levy centered first in the
determination of a revenue policy,
which only Congress could provide.
Ir. Adams also suggested that
Of the greatest needs was Il simplifi-
cation Of the revenue laws, "A state
mcnt %concurrcd in by Senator Smoot,
Republican. of Utah, who said there
was an evident need for enactment OF
tax laws (which the average mai can
understand"