Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-14
PRESIDENT Will,
GIVE HIS VIEW
ON NBONUSISSUE
White House and Capitol
at a Loss to See
Way Out
BORAH OPPOSES BILL
Says Additional Taxes at This Time
to Pay Soldier Bonus Would be
Dangerous.

Washington, Feb. 14.-With the de
cision regarding bond issue now rest
ing with the President, who IS eX
pected to acquaint Congress leader:
with his views following the Cablne
meeting today, the fate of soldier
bonus legislation was in doubt las
night.
The bonus bill controversy today
produced a situation involving botf
the White House and the Capitol anc
here are it's high lights:
There were reports that tomor-
row President Harding may again
advise postponement of bonus
legislation because of the pro-
tests against additional taxation
and the present deadlock in Con-
gress over ways to meet the
bonus payments.
Only bond issue seems left to
the administration money ralsers
The taxation scheme of the House
Ways and Means Committee is
practically dead. 1t seems to be
bond issue or nothing, and Sec
retary Mellon is opposed to
bond issue.
Senator William f. Borah. of
Idaho, made scathing attack
today on the bonus legislation
idea. The Idaho Senator, in a
Senate speech, said the country
was no better off today than
when the President sidetracked
the bonus bill last July and it
would be dangerous to impose ad-
ditional taxes at this time. Sem
ator Borah predicted that if a
bonus bill is passed it will con-
stitute a mere Npromise to pay
and funds will hot be provided !
for by the same bill.
by the same bill.
Members Of the Senate Fin
ance and House Ways and Means
Committees again conferred over
the vexatious question and ad-
iourned until , o'clock this
afternoon.
1t was said that by this hour the
committee expects to hear whether
the President would approve an issue
of short-term bonds to meet the bonus
payments. Congress has been so de-
luged by protests against the eight
way taxation bill prepared by the
WAYS and Means Committee that it
seemed apparent today that no such
bill could get through, even though
The Senate leaders accepted the House
plan. The Senate leaders, however, al
ready have said they could not stom-
ach the House taxation scheme.
The President doubtless will present
the entire bonus problem to the Cab
met today. There is no question that
it is causing grave concern to Ad-
leaders, who see IN the
situation a case of 1--WE are damned if
we do and damned if we don't"
While the Finance Committee wor-
ried over redeeming pledges OF a
bonus bill when there are no funds
available, Senator Borah delivered a
caustic speech in opposition to the
whole program.
Senator Borah said a bonus paid to
men who returned from the war physi-
cally fit and who today are well could
not be defended and would mean a
in appropriations for the dis
abled soldiers. The 1daho Senator SAID
there has been appropriated
for the disabled soldiers Sl,l15.0OO,-
900.
This is but the beginning said
Senator Borah, Il expect that within
10 years we will be approprlating an,
nually 81 100000 for our disabled
soldiers and this will go on for years
1t will cost this Government in tn
long run between S75,000,000,000 an,
500 .O00,O 100000 for the care, hospi
talization and rehabilitation of ou;
veterans who came back incapacitated
There should be liberal allowance:
for them now and in the years u
come, but | do mot see how anyon'
con Justify the payment of a bonus t
we'll man.