Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1922-02-17
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY Il. 1922.
THE BONUS DILEMMA

mere nccQ DC lllllC = JdAlN
for the Republican majority in
Congress as it finds itself i'll d
maze of embarrassments over the
soldiers bonus proposal. The
nest is of Republican weaving
and the general disposition is to
let those who made the snarl un-
ravcl il.
The question OF a bonus, in
volving billions OF dollars from
the public treasury, has deserved
the most unselhsh consideration
that enlightened craftsmanship
can give it. The issue has been
clear; if the bonus is paid. the
taxpayer must foot the bill.
There is no alternative. Only
two questions were worthy OF
consideration first, should and
can the bonus be paid; and, sec
ond. if it should be paid and can
be paid without too great menace
to financial stability, how can the
funds be raised most equitably?
But in 50 far as the majority
OF the Republican congressional
bloc is concerned, these questions
seem TO have had little weight.
The whole matter from the first
has every appearance OF having
been put upon the unworthy basis
of vote-snatching. The one de-
sire has been to find way to
pay-or pretend to pay--a bonus
that will win the soldier vote
without sacrificing the support of
of too great a number OF the rank
and file of taxpayers.
This wish was father of the pro-
posal to obtain the funds for a
soldier bonus from the principal
or interest of the foreign debt.
Although it is notorious that
there is no income from this
source now and none III immedi-
ate prospect. certain gentlemen on
capitol hill were willing to pass
such a bill and trust to luck that
Its fallacy would not become APP
parent until after the COMPRESSION
al elections of next fall.
Fortunately there has been
some craftsmanship in Washing
ton. The secretary OF the treas
ury, Mr.. Mellon. pointed out the
absurdity OF basing a bonus upon
the foreign debt in logic that is
irrefutable. Even the President
after shifting his position from
frank opposition to any bonus to
espousal of the proposal. has
yielded to the opposition to a
bond issue.
No comprehensive knowledge
of finance is needed to realize the
unwisdom of further large bond
ing activities by the federal gov
ernment at a time when all our
resources should be directed to-
ward reducing our colossal and
burdensomc debt. If the Amer
ican people desire a bonus to be
paid. they are quite willing to foot
the bill. and they will take GER
tam measure OF satisfaction in
paving it directly and knowing
what they pay. To suggest that
the bonus can be paid from any
other source than from the Amer
lean pockctbook is bit of trav-
eStv.
If the administration is sincere
in advocacy of a bonus. let II be
said frankly to the people: This
should be paid; let us pay It.
wholeheartedly and cheerfully."
That would be statesmanly and
would win applause. 1t the adj
ninistration believes that the
public finances will not stand the
strain. or If it believes that a
bonus should not be paid under
anv circumstances let it say as
much frankly That, too, also
would be craftsmanship and
would be applauded.
But one thing the gentlemen
1t ashington cannot do with
iinpunity. They cannot play both
snds against the middle.