New-York tribune., 1922-02-25
House subcommittee, by
Z to z, Rejects Proposal
for Levy; Agrees to De-
lay Report to Tuesday
Agricultural Bloc
Is Behind Action
Status Of Legislation Con
fused; Harding Holds
Up Reply to NacNider
f-aa M T..s.ee.. wn.l...ato. su-.n.

from me Trspre's wo.a,47foc su-sa,
WASHINGTON. Feb. eth.
entire bonus question vas thrown
into fresh confusion and al expecta-
tions upset by action taken today
behind the locked doors of the House
Ways aud Means Committee, which
showed majority Of the members
against any form Of sales tax snd
in faFor Of presenting the soldie,
bonus bill 10 Congress without any
revenue provisions
Completely reversing every pre-
vious indication, a vote, forced sud
denly this morning in the sub-corn-
mitteo. headed by Chairman Ford
ney, which has been wrestling with
the problem, showed seven members
against the sales tax in any form
and two for it. = second vote on
motion to send the bill to the full
committee without any method Of
raising the money was adopted.
) TO 4
Further Action Unlikely
AT a hastily called meeting this
afternoon of the full Republican
membership Of the Ways and Means
Committee members not on the sub
committee Of nine pleaded for time
in which 10 consider the new PROB
lens presented with the new turn,
and it was agreed TO postpone action
until next Tuesday However, unless
there Is another general Hopping
movement. it IS believed, III view OF
the decisive vote taken against the
sales tax end the fact that all other,
sources have been frowncd upon b.
the President, any action next wesh
will be but formality
The outlook tonight, ss atrimnec
down By this new development, IS that
the bonus bin VIII be sen. to TIN
House within the next two weeks with
out recommendations as 20 tho bes,
method OF raising the money. An over
wnelmng majority OF tho House de
nand enactment o. bonus legislation
al this session Of Congress. That Is
declared to De the only thing that Is
IN any way certain
Hear From Farm Bloc
The general idea is that compen-
ion bill. calling for payments out the
general Treasury fund or possibly pass
ing the problen to Secretary OF tn-
Treasury Mellon, by giving him au
! thority % draw the money from tn.
! best available source within certain
limita.io ons, wlll be reDorte-5 A. the
! same time it is admitted that such
course Will fnd few supporters in the
/ House and tfat Il viii give free reir
/ to the advocates of new issues O.
| short time Trea sury certificates sno
! those VINO demand revival OF the excess
profits tax. At best, there is no room
20 doubt that the whole problem has
been tumbled into greater confusion
if only because Of the formal adn,is
sion by the committee that i has
! failed to ind 4 lead and because OF re-
cent confirmation BY Congress leaders
! chat President Harding w;ll be firm II
, his demand that tire bill specify whe-e
! the money is to come from when It -
sent TO him for his signature.
It was reported when the result o;
/ the vote on the sales tax III the sub
! committee was learned that the unex-
pected opposition TO that means Of
revenue directly followed q visit Of
certain members of the agricultural
/ group, which has been waging an ir
! tense anti-sa.es tax campaign, TO
| Chairman Fordncv and others of ths
]. ! rh
the meeting between them TIE corn.
mittce was shown exactly the strength
Of the forces aligned with the Western
ers and that tne veal SHOW down" OF
the sales ta.. VAS at that time.
How Committee Voted
Those o. tac sub-coiamittee WIN
voted AGAINST The sales tax we're said
to be Chailman Fordney, Representa-
tives Coriey, Of Illinois; Chandler, Of
Oklahoma; Trea0way. OF Massachu
, setts; iSrear, of Wisconsin,; Timhes,
lake. Of Colorado, and Watson. OF
Pennsylvania Only Representatives
Longworth, Of Ohio, and Isaac Bach
arach of New Jersey, voted for tho
motion which proposed the tax.
The five who arc credited with caus~
ing the adoption of motion calling
for a favorable report on the bonus
are Representatives Fordney, Chand-
Ter, Frear. Timberlake and Copley.
Another motion striking out all Of the
bo0ua h5il except the Insurance feat
ure was lost by vote of to 2.
Il was made clear at the White House
to-day that the President has not yet
replied TO the telegram from Hanford
MacNider, national commander of the
american Legion. The message from
the Legion head was received at tho
White House several days ago, and In
it MacNider demanded that soldier
bonus legislation be passed at once.
Harding Withholds Reply
White House officials said to-day
that the President was not pleased, Co
expfessrt mildly, at the temper of Mac
Nider's message, and that it was only
by exercising considerable self-contros
tha. the President did not dictate &
reply 80 tAe message Immediately upon
receiving Il. Lad the President repiiec
at cnce. !; waa said at che White House
thai the message would have bean one
of the most caustici and dirss*. -sveS