Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-01-05
COST Of BONUS
S2,3OO,OO0,OO0
Secretary Houston Estimates
Cost of Aid Measure.
GIVES FIGURES ON 4 PLANS
Presents Report to Senate COMMITTEES,
Declaring That Legislation Would
Add TO Tax Burden-5ody Ac-
journs Without Action.


Washington, Dee. 2S-Passase Of
the soldiers bonus bin would cost the
government approximately S2'Soo.Jo.-
600 Secretary Houston estimated be
fore the senate finance committee con
siderins the soldiers aid measure.
The treasury secretary declared en-
actment OF the bin meant an added
burden in the way OF taxes. reiterat-
ing a statement made before the com
mittee last week that the treasury
ought not 10 be called upon 20 assume
any additional burdens.
While Mr.. Houston said II was I'm
possible 10 compute accurately the ex-
act cost Of each Of the four optional
aid plans. he believed the estimate
submitted was substantially sorrect-
Land settlement provisions Of the hill
contain so many uncertainties. he
added. that the cost entailed by them
could only be guessed at.
Estimates Cost Of Four Plans.
Assuming thar all Of the men would
select one of the four optional plans
Mr.. Houston estimated the cost Of
each Of the plans as follows:
Adjusted service pay. 1892. O000oo
Insurance provisions. S4.534,0o0 0Uo
Vocational training aid. S1,SS0.10O.
600.
Farm and home development. ST.
SS0.OOOOOO
As the plans were optional. the sec
rotary said the choice 81 the men
would not he confined 10 any ~ne 81
them. and allowing for the various So
mated-coSt OF S23OOOOOOOO.
The treasury secretary professed Co
be against a WALL as % methods ~
obtaining revenue TO meet the outlay
that would be required II the bin were
enacted. He called the committees
attention 20 the suggestions for new
taxes contained in his annual report
but explained that these were men
toned only for the information Of cen
gress and without any sort Of recon-
mendations
He did not attempt 20 discuss the
various tax suggestions, asking the
committee 20 hear Or. T. $. Adams.
treasury economist and tax expert.
who gave a comprehensive resume Of
the tax situation. referring Frequently
a. Secretary Houston's discussion 0f
the question Gu hiS annual report. lie
declared the treasury was daily Sec
Ing new evidence Of a further drying
M OF revenue sources. adding that the
task Of computing tax receipts was
to that extent becoming more diff
cult.
Experts Don't Stay Iona"
In addition 20 the difficulties thus
confronting the treasury. Doctor
Adams declared the internal revenue
bureau faced another problem In keep
Ing experts on the job. He said
the men who were capable didn't stay
long.
Senator Smoot (Rep.) OF Utah said
The real danger Is that these men
get training In the revenue bureau
then 20 out and help big firms evada
tax payments"
Doctor Adams said that might be
true 70 some extent. hut that he knew
"of one man who left the bureau
year ago whose resignation cost the
government millions OF dollars IN IN
collected taxes. for he was an execu-
tive with an expert knowledge OF the
work"
The witness said this was tvpical
Of the labor turnover and that Il
directly affected the tax collections
and would continue 10 have a more
direct effect on such collections unless
tax laws were simplified.