Norwich bulletin., 1920-04-01
AMERICAN LEGION FLOODS { CONGRESS WITH PRoPoGANDA
Especial to The Buiietin.)

Washington, D, C., March 31-t
 Propaganda vs. patriotism. Some how they don't seem to mix we'll | was the comment of a middle west | member of congress whose devotion l to the welfare of the soldiers is so l well known that it cannot be quesz l toned. He pointed to abunch of 'scireuiar letters'' stacked on his desk and to a, hundred or more 2telegrams ] --in duplicate-whieh he had received urging him to see to 1t that the Ways and Means committee recommended bonus plan along the lines adyocat
 ed by the American Legion. The fact is, members of congress are not over pleased at the heckling which seems
 to have begun, aimed to secure their
 influence with the Ways and Means committee It may prove. to be a
 double headed and cut both ways. While it calls the attention of con gress to the determination of soldiers
 to secure substantial bonus it has already done much to daspel Che feel ing that the boys who fought in the war were heroes. or, In the words of l the president, NcrusadeFs.r And whether or not destroying that senti- mental reason will be offset by f. | napcial arguments put forth, is something that cannot b1 predicted. Some of the men who have worked l untiringiy for the measures better ing conditions of army men; are not | over pleased to be flooded with letters and telegrams as if nothing but yig- I oreus prodding would bring them to l terms. Moreover, congress has been l flooded with all kinds of propaganda l for the past ten years. and is tired of 1t. Congress wants to help the sol- ldiers who need help-perhaps it wants 1 to help them all, But as things now look heckling them won't do any good. .sss .s'4 Esaa The situation seems to be that con-
 gress to a man, is in favor of grant ing, every possible assistance to nen
 who. are disabled or who played tc
 hard luck on their return, through TIC
 fault of their own. BBut there is. 2
 great diversity of opinion as to whai should Ebe done. if anything. for the
 men who find themselves in good physical condition and fairly well of
 In other ways Congress, and es. pecially the ways and means com, mittee on whose shoulders rests tn, responsibility of a. recommendation
 realizes that while there were ffv,
 million soldiers. one hundred and tiy, millions pecAe who were not soldier must be considered in the problem !. Taxation will affect them all. and tax atien will be three or four times a. , much as at present, if the- bonu measures are carried out aeeordfn, . to the soldiers wishes, so it is esti . mated. So. much as congress want , 1 to aid those soldiers who need hell : it will look carefully into the pro :. posed general bonus, before enterin a on it. Congress is in sympathy wit ' the Adea. but does not entirely see it s way clesF to carry it out and add t :, the already enormous war debt an , taxes with which the United State . lis. already loaded down.
 T Normal income and corporation in : come taxes will be. tripied in order | D iTaefse two billion dollar bonus, accord i ing to official estimates of the Urea. e ury, department, and with the propos e ed sl5o a day bonus the sum woul }. be four times as much. we will q y whatever is necessary for the crir e pied and disabled, any how; and V i. will do something for all f. we fir, k l the country can afford it'r is ia f I summing up of the sentiment of E e majority. according to what they pei k init to be known. The plans of .tf q ways and means. committee are m ! made public. They are under "a tao # agreement, so it is understood; to tai : testimony and confer. before makir e known their opinions. <, -t Z. The New England members Of COT t gress have listened attentiveiy an l. with sympathy to the arguments ]. the representatives of the America # 1 Legion, and have read with care u = letters they have received But tn, ,- are not expressing a definite opiniS n as to what ought to be done. ri r. ] soldier has their full appreciate ,f and sympathy, but whether the coui D. try IS in -as financial position to a l. sulrie the heavy obligation which tl
 legion advocates must, be fully al
 carefully considered, so they belle,
 before any steps are taken to car v IL out. As 2 member of the wa " and means committee Congressui i'll Filsont of the Third Connecticut al to trict has made this very plain. " ur shall do everything that is possii te for the disabled and needy soldier O. said he. We shall do what we c l. for the others Congressman Trea st 1 way of Massachusetts is the otl 10. New England member of that coI O. mitttee, but MT. Treadway did I f- care to make any comment, feeIi I | the tacit agreement not to do so N iu binding him. @ G
 nd I The fact. Is, congress is up agaf1 Lr- pretty hard proposition. It wa te. to cut down the heavy buprden
 of taxatiens now the war is over, as he matter of justice to the people of fas country; it wants to do what is nel he ed for the soldier, how the two ( S be accomplished is a, pretty hard
 to crack. Former Secretary McAt ,af failed by something like fear bill In- dollars, to make his last estim ,e- high enough, and that enormous 5 ns had to be proyoyided for in attion
 the pending expenses. se. we are tt
 Add to that the soldiers bonus of
 added tive to four billions and Av taxes would jump. out of sight 4
 that's the problem the ways sAt means committee is now wrestl to- with-and which. congress as a, wh rst may have to tackle later on. sa { ny Last week, when delegates from ck: various New Kagland Legions " age here in conference, the Connect en delegation made it very plain that ose ex-service men were dissatisfied H the Connecticut method whereby ire interest on fund ofatwo and q l sh- million dollars was available, but t vet IL must be applied for by the soli iu s statng. he was needy. It was ct .leu stated that iR three months only or o50 had been thus asked for out iIs. | me large amount Blaeed- to tl lisn credit. This statement made by c
 necticut men substantiates the cl: nth lnlth that the soldiers are. anxious to Ter: cure the passage of some law vi @ ioL. will give all the benefit whether Ahy not they need it, in order to spare
 feeling of those who do need it.
 whether that will appeal to the |
 mess men in congress Is a matter ,ars conjecture
 ling Senators Brandagee and Mel