The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-02-18
BONUS BILL READY
WITHIN TEN DAYS

washington, Feb. 1.-THE out
standing development today in the
bonus legislation situation was an
unexpected announcement in the
house by Chairman Fordney of the
| ways and means committee that the
bonus bill would be ready for pre-
sentation to a caucus of house Repub-
licans within the next ten days.
A moment after this statement was
made there was shout from the Re-
publican side of the chamber when
the chairman, lifting his voice to it's
highest pitch, declared the soldier
bonus measure would be passed by a
Republican house.
Breaking into the thick Of a row
over charges by Representative Gar
ner Of Texas, ranking Democrat on
the committee, that the bill was be-
ing framed secretly and with the aid
of representatives of the American
Legion, Mr.. Fordney shouted to the
Democratic side that the Republicans
did not deem it proper to seek advice
from those unalterably opposed to it..
While there was no other reference
to the bonus on the floor, bonus talk
swirled through the corridors, and
for the time being discussion of plans
for cutting the army and navy ap-
preparation bills was forgotten. Re-
publican members of the ways and
means committee mAeting morning
and afternoon went over details of
the proposed bill without giving any
intimation as to the exact form of
the measure to be reported. The call
ing in of John T. Taylor, vice chair.
man of the American Legion's legis-
lative committee, and Richard Jones
representing Veterans of Foreign
Wars, provoked the protest of Mr..
Garner and his appeal that the house
step in to prevent Republicans meet
ing in secret with witnesses favoring
the measure without admitting Dem
ocratic members to listen at least to
the deliberations.
How far sentiment was swinging
to tn sales tax as means Of raising
revenue for the bonus, as advocated
by President Harding, was the sub
ject of unending discussion among
members. 1t was evident on all sides,
however, that the republicans were
.detsrmined to nut the hill Through
the house, regardless of what might
happen to it In the senate, In the
event the bill is in shape for consid-
Grafton by Republican caucus with
in the time set by Mr.. Fordney, lead
rs said it would be passed prior to
March 4.
"There is no power in the house to
head off the soldier bonus now," said
Republican leader, which seemed
to be the view of most members in
sisting upon early passage.
Democrats opposing the measure
insisted that objection to the sales
tax was so strong in some quarters
that if the plan of meeting soldier
payments was presented squarcly it
might be defeated.
But if the sales tax method is re-
sorted to, it was said, President Hard
ing would view with favor a tax or
production rather than retail salese.
The executive was said to favor this
form, for it was, he believed, the
simplest form of this tax.
In statements issued today T. G..
Atkeson, Washington representative
of the National grange, characterized
the sales tax as "designated to shift
the burden of taxation from those
most able to pay it to those least
able to pay" and Samuel Gompers,
president of the American Federation
of Labor, declared that it would work
"an injustice upon the whole people.