The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1921-07-15
MELLON ATTACKS
BONUS AS MENACE
Secretary Warns That Bill Would
Disrupt Treasury, Raising
Taxes and Living Costs.
U. S. NOW STAGGERING
Writes Sen. Freinghuysen That Pay
ments Would Prove Boomerang.
Appeals to Congress to Get coun-
try Back on Sound Basis.

ashington-Passage of a soldier
bonus bill at this time would be most
unfortunate for the Treasury and for
the country; would disrupt Treasury
refundment proposals, increase taxes
and the cost of living, and in general
give financial and economic setback
This is the opinion of Secretary of the
Treasury Mellon.
In a letter to Senator Frellnghuy-
sen the Secretary expressed his views
on the bonus, saying the situation
created under any of the optional
plans proposed would be a serious one
and would fairly wreck the Admins
tratiOn plans and efforts for Govern
nent economy. In this connection
the Secretary expressed fears that
Government disbursements IN ght in
any event run ahead of receipts, and
the matter was one of grave concern
to the Treasury.
Notwithstanding the frank analysis
and declarations of Secretary Mellon
the presentation of the Secretary's
letter In the Senate brought a rever-
sion of the sentiment In that body
strongly In favor of the bonus. Many
Senators indicated willingness to
sacrifice cons derations for some
form of bonus legislation. Senator
McCumber, sponsor of the bill, spoke
In favor Of the budget, and sought TO
discount Mr.. Melons forceful out.
line with the declaration that II was
OF course up to the Secretary to look
after the Treasury interests and con-
serve funds.
Minority leader Underwood (Ala.)
opposed the bill. He said: "The vote
here yesterday In favor of taking up
for cons deration the so-called bonus
bill indicates on its face, at least, that
there is a strong sentiment in favor
of Its passage.
at is not a pleasant task to speak
against this bill but / do not feel that
l would do my full duty If l did not
express, so that 1t may appear In the
record. some of the reasons why be.
lieve tbs bill should not become n
law.
II did not expect this letter from
the Secretary of the Treasury. l con-
slider II as a very timely one, strong,
forceful and TO the point. In my judy
ment, II the party in power desires TO
serve the soldiers, serve the farmer
and serve the people generally in this
country, the action that party should
take Is to endeavor to bring the coun-
try back TO a stable condit on of
finance, stable conditions of business,
so that toilers on the farms and In the
workshops may have employment AMI
reasonable remuneration for their toll.
ITO attempt to palliate the present
condition by paying men a bonus does
not relieve the situation, and is not
for the benefit of the country. l am
opposed TO the I'll for many reasons
He attacked the bill, reading from
the McCumber report which explained
its provisions, and said II was UNI
worthy of the committee to report II
out
Referring TO the fact that IL was
paying for patriotic services-paylng
dollar n day, mo man in the Sen
uNcg lt Sulhg Nbuih laht lllC
that these soldiers took for a dollar
day"
Secretary Melons letter was in re-
Spouse to communication from Sen
ator Frellnghuysen, In part as fol-
lows: I'm my study of the bill have
tried to determine what financial obll-
gat on its enactment would place upon
the Treasury. Such obligation your
department, l am sure, is equipped to
ascertain. / have no desire to place
any undue burden upon you but I
would be grateful If you could see
your way clear to indicate what the
enactment of the bill would mean TO
tie Treasury of the United States"
No such sum as proposed, Secretary
Mellon says, could be taken from the
public treasury, even though extended
over n period of years, without throw
ing heavy burden upon all the people
of the country.