Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-26
REF FUNDED BONDS
To PAY SOLDIER
BONUS FAVORED D
BY REPUBLICANS
Thirty Members of the House
Of Representatives Come
Out Formally in Favor of
Such a Plan,
AN OBNOXIOUS TAX
SHOULD BIZ AVOIDED
Pressure to Speed Up the
Bill Is Being Exerted, But
Leaders Are Not Disposed
to Rush It,

Washington, Feb, 25.-Thirty
republican members Of the house
| of representatives prominent in
the group opposing the sales tax
came out formally today in favor
of using the refunded foreign
bonds to finance the soldiers bonus.
In a int open letter to Chair
man Fordney OF the ways and
means committee they said the use
of these bonds would remove a
grossly unjust proposal, prevent
the political overturning of con-
gress and will be just to the eX-
soldiers who saved for us these
foreign debts"
1.-THE bonus should be passed
without any obnoxious tax and
should be passed without delay"
added the letter, which was framed
by Representative Frear of Wis.,
consin and signed by twenty-nine
other members, mostly from west
ern states.
"Your action on yesterday, sup
ported by members of the subcom-
mittee, in discarding any sales tax
on the bonus bill" the letter said.
will receive the hearty support of
members Of congress generally. We
believe the subcommittee vote of
7 to 2 against such a tax is close
index of house sentiment on the
subject
Would PcnaIlze Ex-soldicrs.
"A sales tax would penalize every
ex-soldier and conpel him to pay
toward his own meager bonus.
Nine hundred thousand jobless eX-
soldiers will be Obliged Immediate
" to pay consumption taxes under
any sales tax law.
mo sales tax law could get
through the house and senate in
less than ninety days If passed at
all. Ninety days more would be
required to secure a clerical force
to put the law in operation, thus
taking until September or october
of this year.
congressman I4ongworth Is au-
thOrity for the statement that when
British bonds are received in June
| or July next these can be used,
with tho approval of the president,
! to finance the bonus for several
months before any sales tax funds
would be available.
"Semi-annual interest on thus
debt amounting to $125, 100000 has
been voted in the British budget
and Is understood to be collectihle
by June /, next"
With this letter sales tax oppo-
nents gave notice that their cam
paign would be vigorously waged
DESPITE the rejection of the tax
proposal by the subcommittee. The
republican membership Of the ways
and means committee will meet
Tuesday to consider the subcom-
mittee action. and the fight of con-
sumption tax opponents Will go on.
at least up to that time.
Chairman Fordney declined TO
saw today whett or he would consult
with President Harding before the
committee meeting Tuesday, but
the impression gained today at the
capitol was that Mr.. arding would
be advised of yesterdays action by
the subcommittee in rejecting the
sales tax advocated bv the eXecu-
tive and voting to report out a bill
without any provision for providing
the needed revenue.
Some pressure to speed up the
bonus bill in the house ia being
exerted now, but leaders generally
apparently are not inclined to rush
the legislation.