Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-05-06
SenQtOr Thomas Ar1SeS
To Make Feeling appeal
For Natl0nS TaxbayerS

and other taxes on business, have
increased the price of commodities
by 1872 per cent This always has and
always will be So"
What Taxpayers Must Do
REWRITING to the soldier bonus levy
of two to three billions, Senator
Thomas addressed the taxpayers
as follows:
But one thing stands between
this monstrous proposition and it's
certain accomplishment. l refer 10
the aroused opposition Of the great
army of American taxpayers and
consumers. If that can be mater1-
intelligent organization, it can be
converted into a potent factor for
good In Washington Practically
every other interest is so organized.
with it's militant Hobbies at the
capital
These Hobbies. like the bonus. are
sugar-coated by, more pleasing
names. They are generally called
committees on legislation. Labor,
agriculture, good roads, prohibition,
anti-prohibition, irrigation, drainage,
rivers and harbors, Mississippi flood
Plumb plan and other plans, Syrians,
Koreans, Czecho-S lovaks, Jugo-SIays'
Polanders, Irish and Egyptians-all
these and more are with us. They
walt ala, Wn1Ch In the
last analysis means financial aid.
THE hosts which are organized
and are on the ground struggling
against each other in the mad rush
for your rapidly diminishing treas
ury, know you, the taxpayer, only as
the source of supply. Since you do
not seemingly concern yourselves
with the manner in which your rep
.reSentatlVeS spend your money, they
encount ter no opposition to their as
Saults upon your treasure vault, save
as they come in collision with each
other or attract by their clamor
rival seekers for public and national
bounties."
Senator Myers, of Montana, sug-
gested he did not want to discourage
Senator Thomas, but really there was
little chance of organization among
the taxpayers. Other special inter-
ests, he said, cast their votes in one
block, but the taxpayers look for the
party label and vote according to
their politics.
"You cannot discourage me-" said
Senator Thomas. my discourage
ment reached zero long ago. I try
to warm it occasionally and possibly
that is all 1 shall accomplish by this
effort"
The War Debt
Senator Thomas said the war with
Germany had entailed debt of more
than twenty-five billions on the Unit
ed States, demanding an annual in
terest charge exceeding the country's
pre-war expenditures. A century of
0urdensome taxation, he declared, is
ahead. Without frugality this tax
alton will be insufficient land will
abide with us forever" With a pros
pective deficit Of $4,000, 100000 at the
beginning of the next fiscal year,
Senator Thomas said this could be
liduidated only by direct taxes or
another bond issue, the bonds to bear
not less than 5 and IL per cent
interest.
Representative Frank w. Mondell,
majority leader of the house. has lust
pride" to the reductions in the gov
eminent estimates of about a billion
and a half dollars. The estimates
Tor the next fiscal year, and supple
mental requests, are around five bill
hons, although a detailed statement
OF hnal appropriations is not avail
able now because of differences be-
tween the two houses of congress
ference.
However, if soldier bonus or lad
Justed compensation" legislation ia
enacted it will throw ali figures off
ana az l., necess1tate a revision not only
q or
OF the taxation laws.
again. no one may accurately fore
cast now what the voluntary system
OF military and naval training sub
stltuted Tor compulsory training. is
10 cost. The senate has added
framing amendment to both the army
ana navy budgets. Increase in paw
Tor officers of the army and navy
ana civil service retirement Iegis1a-
ton likewise add to the uncertainty
OF the final balance sheet from Uncle
Sans book.
Even on the most optimistic fore
cast 1t is apparent that the country
IS IN bad way financially and taxes
ana the high cost Of living will keen
the average fellow with his nose to
the proverbial grindstone for years to
come.
a. The Senator's Toupee
-, Forgetting momentarily Senator
Thomash warnings and apparently
justified forebodings, let one consid-
er in conclusion the lighter subject
OF Senator Thomas toupee.
Unfortunately, Senator Thomas is
quite bald. He doesn't mind that so
much when the weather is warm, but
when when frost comes on the ground
head. There it stays until winter
ends and for years folks about the
senate have regarded the Thomas
toupee, it's presence or absence, as
indicative of the change Of the
season.
Soon Senator Thomas will walk
into the senate chamber, wave slight
ly at the fellows in the press gallary
and point to his very bald head. This
is the signal for the annual story of
the official arrival of spring. Next
winter Senator Thomas will appear