Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-01-19
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10. 1922.
NO Decisions ABouT THE BONUS

The Bill introduced in the
Maryland Legislature by Presi-
dent Norris of the Senate, pro-
viding for a referendum on the
soldier bonus, will, II passed and
approved by the Governor, at
least be the means OF settling this
issue, in so far as the State action
regarding it is concerned. The
number of taxpayers who are not
also voters is negligible, so that
referendum would mean practic-
ally that those who would have
to pay the bill would be the ones
to say whether or not they were
in favor OF doing it. There should
be no sham or delusion about the
bonus, and the State will not like
ly be misled by any subterfuges
such as are indicated from the
Il. balls Of the National Legislature.
The bonus proposition calls for
tStraightforwardness and frank
ness, and should mean either the
adoption or rejection of the mea-
sure, providing actual payment, as
distinguished from mere indefi-
mite promise.
The proposal OF administration
leaders in Congress that the sol
dier bonus shall be linked with
the allied war debt to America
Will undoubtedly meet with vigor-
Gus opposition by the American
people and particularly world war
veterans. Two plans are sug-
gested: first, that the bonus paid
out of interest collected on the
war debt; and second, that il be
paid by bonds levied against the
ormar debt principal in either
case, it is declared, no taxation
upon the American people will
be necessary, the inference being
that the soldiers bonus would not
cost the American people a cent.
The proposition does not ring
true.
Interest is not now being paid
on the allied war debt TO the
United States. No payment OF
the principal of this debt is in
sight. Our late allies give no en-
couragement upon which early
payment of either principal or in
terest may be expected. Further
more, a well-developed campaign
is under way in influential and
well-formed quarters in this coun-
try to convince the American tax
payer that it is not practicable to
expect payment for a long time to
come, if ever; and that even If our
allies could pay. they should not
be asked to do so.
In the face of such situation.
proposal in the White House
and in Congress to make payment
OF a bonus dependent upon col
lection of the war debt sInacks
OF demagogy.
Either the war de0t will be paid
or it will not be paid. Ii it is
not paid the soldiers bonus legiS-
lation as planned Will be fraud
If it is paid. il will DC paid whe-
Their bonus bill be passed or not
However, if a bonus is TO be rails
ed it will be raised by a tax on
the American pOcketbook. There
is no other way. Receipts from
whatever source shat may be ap-I
piled TO providing a bonus will be
diverted from the general treas I
ury or from a sinking fund for !
specific outstanding obligations. |
That proposition is so plain as to
require no exemplification.
The merits of the bonus are not |
involved in Ibis view. The Amer
lean people probably desire a
bonus to be paid. If they do they /
are willing to pay it. and they |
know that they alone will have
to pay it. And by paying it they /
know. too, that they will by moi
means be discharging their obi
cation of gratitude and honor TO
The men who fought.
incidentally, the merits OF the
bonus seem not to be taken into
consideration by the adninistraS'''