Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-25


Expected Closer Vote
Both proponents and opponents OF
the sales tax appeared to be surprised
by the vote on that proposition. Both
sides had apparently expected a close
vote. Representatives Longworth. OF
Ohio, and Bacharach, of New Jersey
were said to have been the only mem
bers voting for a sales tax. although
Representative Watson, of Pennsylva-
MIA, said be favored such a tax if a bill
carrying other than an insurance fea-
ture were voted out
On the sales tax ballot. however
Mr. Watson was said to have voted in
the negative. Others reported to have
voted in the negative were Chairman
Fordney, and Representatives Frear,
Wisconsin: Copley. Illinois: Treadway,
Massachusetts,; Timberlake Colorado.
and Chandler. Oklahoma. Mr.. Chand-
ler was absent. but Chairman Fordney
voted his proxy.
Division of Subcommittee
On the ballot to report out a bill
without any revenue provision. the sub
committee was said to have divided as
follows:
In favor: Fordney. Frear. Copley.
Timberlake and Chandler.
Against: Longworth. Bacharaeh.
Treadway and Watson.
Four members of the subcommittee
were reported to have favored a fur
ther postponement of bonus legislation
in the belief that in time the problem
of finance would solve itself. Post
ponement is opposed. however, by n
big majority of the committee and also
by many members of the house. Chair
man .Fordney reiterated that bonus
bill would be passed at this session and
other committeeman expressed the
same view. Some supporters of Il safes
tax EXPRESSED the view that President
Harding might again take hand III
the bonus controversy. They thought
it was the present intention OF the
committee to report out legislation
based on the proceeds from the refund
ed foreign bonds and said the. president
had expressed disapprovai of such
legislation.
Fear Political Effects
Leaders of the house republicans op-
posing a sales tax, Waged a vigorous
against this form of levy be
fore the committee met to resume its
consideration of the financing PROB
lem. They said the ranks of oppon-
ents had been swelled considerably
within the past two days and that
whatever doubt there might have been
about the result of the issue in the
house. had been removed.
1t became known that Representa-
tiyes Frear and Dickinson, of Iowa,
and Woodruff. of Michigan. called on
Chairman Fordney late Thursday and
frankly laid before him the whole sit
uation, placing emphasis on its poh-,
tical aspects. They were understood
to have contended that sales tax
would cause general dissatisfaction
the country: would make
the soldiers bonus extremely unpopu
lar with the people, and might result
in political upheavals in many ner-
mally solid republican districts.
viii Need Special Paying Staff
Those favoring the passage of a
bonus bill without any provision for
raising the revenue, said. such legisia-
lion could be followed by another bill
giving the secretary of the treasury
authority to use proceeds from the re-
funded bonds in paying the bonus.
They said the expectation now was
hat some, at least, Of the foreign bonds
would be on hand by June or July and
hat money could be realized on them
before the cash payment to the for
ner service men would become due.
Special machinery for paying the
,onus win have to be set up in the
var department, it was said, with
arge staff of clerks necessary to ex-
mime the records of the men to de-
.ermine the exact amounts that each |
$ to receive. Because of the magni-
.ude of the task that would confront |
H. AMSv n A~-
pressed that the cash payments could
,e started on next October /, the date |
liked in the bonus bill as amended.
Inquiry as 10 this is to be made of |
(Csentinued ON Psgs Twe)