Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-01-08
MEN SEEM
ASSURED OF RELIEF
Adjusted Compensation Measure Almost
Certain to Pass at Present Session
of Congress-

/ by distributing whatever payments may
be made on adjusted compensation over
4 long period, running up to five years.
In the earlier bill from, tae ways and
means committee it was proposed that
the cash payment should be distributed
IN ten instalments. three months apart.
Representative Bacharachs proposal
VIII be for yearly payments for five
; years.
! The insurance feature also IL favor.
, ed by Representative Bacharach. who
i will urge that a smaller amount be
| given those who take cash than
would be provided for those who, ac-
cept insurance. He is strongly of the
opinion that the insurance feature is
best for the men themselves.
From all quarters of the country
and from scores of his colleagues in
the House Representative Bacharach.
the father of the sales tax" has re-
ceived pledges Of support for such q
| provision to meet the costs OF ad-
3usted compensation. Representa-
tive Bacharach. however, is pretty
we'll satisfied that 1t will not be nee
essary to impose general sales tax,
but only on a few items. He is going
4 to make specific recommendations as
to just what few items il taxed will
yield enough revenue to meet the
adjusted compensation. and lined up
with this will be estimates regarding
the advantages of insurance He
isn't ready yet to announce what
particular items must be taxed to
yield the necessary revenue. but It's
safe bet that a gasoline tax will be
included, on the ground that ii will
raise the largest amount with the
least kicking.
The sentiment in favor of the tax
on gasoline Is growing. Pennsyl.
vania has already imposed a I cent
tax. bill for gasoline tax is be-
fore the Maryland state legislature.
Virginia and West Virginia are to
consider similar proposal at their
next legislatures. New Jersey. New
York. Delaware and Connecticut Of
ficials have also been considering
such a tax. In view Of this senti-
ment spreading among the states,
/ representative Bacharach feels that
1t will be easier to get a gasoline
tax across than a general sales tax,
md that it will cost nothing to col
iect such a tax. because 1t would be
collected at the source OF supply.
He is also of the opinion that It
will not be necessary to continue this
proposed SAlss tax on . few specified
commodities very long to provide
unds Sufficient to pay the adjusted
compensation.
4 -
How much will the adjusted com.
,ensation for ex-servics men cost the
government? No one knows. The
soldier bonus" was estimated as a
liability Of from $3.50. ooo.o 900 to ST.
o0,000.000 and even as high as 81
I00.000,000. By showing the service
men that it is to their best interests
o take the insurance feature and by
distributing any bonus paid over
,eriod of years it is not thought that
this legislation will hurt the people
of the country as much as has been
feared. while doing justice to the
best manhood of the country who
vent forward to fight.
Members Of the committee are wish
ing they could And a way to make
the government benefits accrue only
to those who actually were in the
camps. and not to apply to those who
had influence enough to get them
selves safe jobs handling supplies and
doing desk work. Every member OF
Congress knows Of some men from
his home district who held such Jobs
and who are not really entitled to any
adjusted compensation such as it Is
intended to provide for the men who
actually were in the dangerous SER
vice. But 1t is not at all likely that
1t will be found possible to effect any
such segregation.
A considerable number Of the men
who actually saw service overseas
and in the front line trenches and
fighting enemy airships are averse to
accepting any cash bonus from the
government. They argue that this
would be putting a price on their
patriotism. Members OF Congress
. feel that many Of these would not
refuse to accept government insur-
ance. and by emphasizing the insur-
ance feature the government benefac-
ton could be made moro uniform for
all men in the service.
Some members of the ways and
means committee say that they ex-
poet to see the adjusted compensa-
ton measure reported out OF the
ways and means committee by the
middle Of next month. When II is
brought up for a vote in the House
IL will go through with a bang.
4 Many influential members OF Con-
gress say that they cannot reconcile
the remembrance OF able-bodied men
in shipyards and other safety first
Jobs, getting all sorts of exorbitant
pay, while the best boys Of this ma
ton were in camps and trenches.
; Germans Find Gold
), In Paying Quantity
II r H. !