Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-02-25


Senate Finance Committee that
the cost of the bill would be g.
300, 100000. Of the five options
offered to veterans, adjusted
service pay" the polite name
for a bonus. is the one that
would undoubtedly be chosen by
the majority Of the benefciaries.
Wren the House passed the
bill il a spasm of Republican
Democratic bidding disguis-
ed as gratitude" and ''patrio-
tism, " it was not expected to get
any further at that session, and
Repr blican leaders so expressed
them selves. New taxes and in
creases of existing taxes were
provided by the bill. The state
of the Treasury, the state of
BUSH ess, Republican pledges of
economy, the necessity of revis.
ing end lowering taxation-if nc
other reason, the exhaustion of
some of the sources of taxation
these considerations made tie
country hope that the Senate
would regard the action of the
House as mere political gesticul-
alton. But Spend, and the
Devil take the hindmost," seems
to be the Republican motto.
Senator Penrose. dropping his
earlier professions of economy,
says that the Senate Finance
Committee will report the Bonus
bill early this week. Four of
the five options will be retained.
The TAX provisions of the House
bill will be excised. The bonus
will )e authorized, but the next
Congress will have the task of
raising the money. To the Sixty
seventh the task of financing
this yrab for votes.
DID even the calm and adjust
able Mr.. Penrose ever reach a
dizzier height of impudence!
Sc ator McCumber," he says,
"ha. informed me that the bill
will not cost as much as many
people think. " What is much"
in TIE Senate Finance Commit.
tee? The National Commar der
of the American Legion has esti.
mated the maximum cost at 81,
878, a0t 900 1t is the record OF
experience that expenditures of
this kind are always fattened
and expanded. How nonchalant
and .eassuring is Mr. Penrose.
TIE necessary appropriations
can be arranged in the next ses-
sion, along with the necessary
arrangements to provide the
funds. While this presents a
knotty problem, Senator Nc.
Cumber is comforting with rep.
resentatives of the American Le-
and doubtless will arrange the
proper legislation.
M awhile the taxpayers await
with delightful expectations the
new means by which they are to
be mulcted. If Kitchin chasti-
sed hem with whips, Penrose
and mis- fellow-reducers of the
cost Of living will chastise them
with scorpions.
In December Senator Mclean
of Connecticut said that it
would be futile to pass the bill
without first finding a way to
raise the money which would
be needed to carry the provis-
ions of the measure into effect. !"
To that futility, and worse, Mr..
Penrose seems committed. He
nay be acting a part, but it is 8
one. State after
State has voted a general and SUI
oerfluous gratuity to the service
men. The United States should
stick to the rule of common sense
md common justice: ITO the
dis lbled, the most generous aid:
for the healthy, husky majority
no aid is needed. In the &C.
u"l economic and financial con-
litio1s, even a politician should
,e able to see the folly of author.
zing new and mighty debt.
The taxpayers back is nearly
,roken already. New York
Zines.