The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-03-16
As Others See 1t
OPPOSITION TO BONUS PLAN DwINDLINe
(Tlorlda Post, Republican,

Welcome reports come from Washington that
the big opposition to the bonus plan is dwnding
and that the cx-soders of the world war are
beginning to realize they are to be rewarded and
that the long deferred action was caused by the
inability to find place where there plenty
of funds TO be had
Many men of many minds have not changed
the action of the leaders of the administration
and of congress whit they might think
their suggestions while good could not be car
ried out because that to do would be in direct
violation to the constitution of the United States
something congress itself cannot violate as the
United States supreme court was put there for
the purpose to stop any violation.
With the opposition largely dissipated by the
new solderbo plan it is thought that the bill
will be reported to congress this week and that
it will pass some time next week That depends
greatly on the opposition from the Democrats and
how much they will want to talk. The ways and
means committee of the house have the bill now
in hand and a report from the full committee
will be given.
Possibly the greatest ATTACKS will come from
those who are opposed to the government assum-
ing another burden that will amount to more
than billion dollars, and members of congress
are already being accused of being guilty of
shifting this burden to future generations while
at the same time they are getting credit from
their constituents for soldier bonus that does
not levy any additional taxes on the public
The entire fight is center on how to find way
TO pay the soldiers and there is no opposition
from any that the soldiers shoNld not be
paid. Some even suggest that congress author
ize the payment in new bank notes as the issue
would be backed by the government and that
gives them a value of leo cents on the dollar.
but the chances that every big financial con-
Germ and all of the trust companies would op-
pose that measure even if it was legal
The only manner in which the soldiers bonus
bill can be handled satisfactorily to all concerned
| is by the passage of a sales tax bill that would
provide the needed revenue and distribute the
burden all over the country.
sales tax is the only logical conclusion to
all of our tax evils. There are many who are
opposed to it, but those who have given the mat
ter sober thought and consideration, who have
the interest CT the nation a whole at heart
and who are not looking at the matter with a
view as to how it will suit his her particular
activities all favor a sales tax. Many, too, have
urged that a sales tax would pyramid the burden
en- the poor people and that the successive taxa
ton would hit them rather hard. This may be
ue anu lHeTc Is no SalnsaylnS that the ultimate
consumer does pay the lions share of the pur-
chase price but on the other hand the poorer
man u.s. the less he can buy and hence the less
he has to pay On the sales tax while the rich
man who spends money freely would be paying
the major porto nof the tax as a whole
Perhaps here is where the rub is and why some
of the congressman are opposed to a sales tax
for many Of them must look to the men of wealth
10 finance their coming campaigns, but a sales
tax is the only solution that is sponsored by Pres
ident Harding, and he is generally considered
pretty level headed man.