Evening star., 1922-02-14
PRESIDENT FIRM
AGAINST TAX FOR
SOLDIERS BONUS
Continued from First Page.)

the previous postponement of this
legislation, OF economic grounds, ex-
planned at the time by President
Harding and Secretary Mellon. and
he contended that the same conditions
now apply as arguments against the
improved in the country.
Are We any nearer to a restDra-
tion of financial conditions?" he
asked. "or are we simply nearer to
election.
How are We going to pay the
voting an appropriation SO long as
we can vote it out of the air; so long
as we merely vote the appropriation
and trust to Divine Providence to get
the money. When we announce, how
ever. that we are going to lay a tax
upon automobiles, or that we are go
ing TO lay a tax upon gasoline, or that
we are going to lay a tax upon post
age, or that We are going to impose
sales tax, then q different situation
mmediately arises, for there are
more taxpayers in the United Sta tes
tnan there are ex-service men. The
situation Immediately becomes seri.
Gus.
1T has been proposed thus far to
raise the tax in several different
ways I understand that none of
them has yet been accepted or agreed
upon, largely for the reason that as
soon as it was divulged that a tax
was to be laid here or there the pro
test was SO keen and so determined
that 1t was thought wise to shift It
somewhere else. 1t would be lu-
dicrous IL 1T were not tragic.
Il nave no fear of the passage of
a bonus bill II there be included in
the bonus bin the method of paying
the bonus, but venture the prophecy
now that. after some weeks of in
vestigation and consideration as to
what particular industries or what
particular commodities are going to
be taxed. the question of how the
abandoned and we shall pass the
bonus bill without providing for any
methed of paying 1t.
we will take a reckless chance
that in some way or somehow we
Will ma a way to put on this burden
aa ano nope to conceal the fact from
prophesy you will have trouble. YOur
proposals have called the people to
the watchtower, they know now that
whether you put 1t in this bill or a
separate bill they must meet It.
1t Is too late to soothe their anxiety
by little piece OF legislative ledger
demain."
Opposes More Taxation.
SehoeoA EoSe, republican, New Jer.
sey, In q formal statement, declared
that that while nhiie he had not yet taken a
iation. 'ff the billions necessary tn
pay the proposed Bonus are to be
raised through further taxation uuon
business and Industrial enterprise,
then I am against it, and. In my
Judgment, we are simply putting OH
just that much longer a RESUMPTION
OF industrial and business activity
necessary. to lessen present unem-
II Congress would adopt as the
method of raising revenue" he added,
"a general sales tax, so that every
body. rich and poor. according to
their expenditures. would thus pay
their proportion. and. equally as i'm
portant. the policy Of the sales tax
would thus be placed on the statute
books, so that 1t could be used for
obtaining necessary government rev.
enue IN the future and permit Con.
gress to cut down the high surtaxes
ana business taxes already paralyx-
ing business energy. there might be
more justification for passing the
bonus bill"