The Wilson times. [volume] (Wilson, N.C.) 1896-19??, 1922-03-10
FOR SOLDIER BON
\ Deadlock in the Senate
Seems to be the Inevitable
Result, the Proponents Of a
Sales Tax are Numerous in
the Senate, but are Very
Few In the House.
(By David Lawrence.)
Copyright 1922 by The Daily


Washington, March 8.-The White
House officially announces that Pres
ident Harding still favors either a
sales tax or a postponement OF the
cash payments on the soldier bonus.
The President himself let it be
known that while he disliked to dis
appoint those who said the Admins
tration was changing with the wealth
er. the fact was the Executive had not
altered his position on the bonus is
sue. This information was impaired
when it was suggested that Chairman
Fordney had brought to the White
House details of the modified plan OF
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee whereby fifty dollars was to be
the maximum cash given service men
who served on this side and $62.50 to
those who went overseas.
Although Chairman Fordney dis
cussed the bonus question with the
President, the latter is represented at
the White House as having failed to
approve or disapprove the Fordney
plan.,
The news Of President Hardings
insistence on his original position OF
postponement or the enactment of a
sales tax to raise the needed revenue
has started all sorts of speculation as
to what's behind Mr.. Harding's move.
He knows of course that sales tax
is impossible because there are not
enough votes to get it through. The
House on the other hand faces an
election this autumn and is more or
less pledged by it's leaders to take
some sort of action. ..
The upshot of the whole situation
is unquestionably a deadlock in the
Senate. When 435 members of Con-
gress have to stand for reelection no
vital issue can be evaded. Some ex-
preston must be had or the matter
becomes troublesome either in pri-
maries or elections. Many Democratic
votes, too, will be cast in favor of the
House bill. Indeed, both parties will
go on record as favoring the new
bonus plan but when the bill reaches
the Senate, different situation will
confront it. In the first place only one
third of the Senate is up for reelec-
ton. Even if everyone Of those men
voted for the bonus bill, it wouldn't
be enough to pass it.
The chances are the bonus bill will
have hard shedding in the Senate. The
proponents Of sales. tax are numer
Gus in the Senate but few in the
House. This means revival of the
sales tax agitation when the bonus
bill strikes the Senate. Meanwhile
President Harding sees no necessity
,of approving the House measure ant
sees on the contrary great deal tao
tical advantage in standing pat unit
both Houses of Congress reach som'
sort Of an agreement. It may be tina
when the Fordney bill gets into con
ference, the loan feature whereof!
service men may borrow from th'
banks up to half the amount Of th'
sums they would have been entitled
Ito If they were paid dollar da!
for service on this side Of the Atlantic
and dollar and quarter for service
overseas will be eliminated. The l0al
lprovision is weaker In strength thai
the cash payment feature.
4 II both Houses should arrive at al
understanding whereby small bonu
lis paid and the limit is placed o.
fifty days Of service, the chances ar
!such measure would not be vetoed
But thu impression at the moment
THAT Mr.. Harding has very little con
|fidence that the tangle between tn
1.-TWO Houses can Be straightened ou'
} $50 he Il insisting upon : sales ta
!, which Il obviously impossible :
(Contiaued ~ Pags ~