Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-17

Proponents of sales tax professed
to be confident that because of the
strong desire in both the house and
senate to put through the bonus bill
at this session, II majority of the mem
bers would come to accept this levy
rather than see the bonus program de-
feated.
Pending more careful consideration
of the whole problem and possible
further reaction from the country.
there seemed to be disposition on
all sides to move slowly The presi-
dents letter, addressed to Representa-
tive Fordney, was read at joint meet
ing of republican members Of the house
and senate committees dealing with
the bonus question. who agreed after
some discussion to- leave the matter
in the hands of the majority members
of the house committee.
Legion Viii Be Asked Views
1t was announced that those mem
bers would meet Friday. but it was
Indicated that the tax question would
not be taken up Immediately. Officers
of the American Legion viii be called
in first. it was stated. to give their
views as to Mr.. Harding's suggestion
that. instead of extending the cash
payments over two avid one-half years,
payments be deferred until the day
when we may safely undertake to pay
at once in full
Declaring that the government he'd
under consideration the disposition of
surplus war properties and other trans
actions which should bring great re-
lief to the treasury. the president
said it would be wise to let the
legislation go over If congress did not
deem it advisable to adopt the sales
tax.
II believe. the president wrote.
the American people will accept the
levy of a general sales tax to meet the
proposed bonus payments and we
should contribute thereby no added
to the problems Of read
justment. II congress will not adopt
such a plan, it would be wise to let
the legislation go over until there is
ii situation (which will justify the large
outlay.
Trying to Force Tax, Says Leader
Republican leaders generally with
held comment. but Representative GAR
rett of Tennessee, the democrat leader
in the house. and Representative Gar
ner of Texas, ranking democrat on the
house ways and means committee. is
asserted that there has been from the
beginning purpose on the part of the
to engraft the sales tax
system upon the country, so that there
may be gradual reduction of the taxes
on wealth.
Representative Dickinson. repuh-
lican. Iowa. leader of the house agri-
cultural bloc. declared that republicans
from the western states would fight
any effort on the part of the party
leaders to have adopted rule under
which bonus bill with sales tax
provision could be put through the
house without amendment and that
with the aid of the democrats, they
ought to be successful
Counter Proposal Program
With the bill open to amendments;
he said, increased inheritance levies
and surtaxes, and re-enaetment of the
excess profits tax. Representative
Garner said the democrats would join
in the fight against the rule and also
would propose amendments carrying in
'reases Of many present taxes, including
those on liquors.
Senator Capper. republican. Kansas.
4 leader of the senate agricultural
bloc, stated that he had been against
Il sales tax all along. and still further
'or bonus or any other measure. He
said he was not speaking for the bloc,
he was sure that many OF its
members were against sales tax,
II would rather vote for mn excess
profits tax" he asserted, "and my peo-