Evening journal., 1922-05-10

jections to both the Mccumber and
smoot plans, Senator McCumber
and his Republican associates are
preparing to report the bill framed
by him to the Senate and support a
move to set the tariff bill aside 10
admit immediate consideration of
the bonus bill They were not pre-
pared to say last night just when
they would move in this direction,
but 1t was quite apparent that the
opposition of the President will not
long delay some gesture of the sort.
Regardless of the merits of either
the McCumber or Smoot plans, the
majority OF Senators are still insist
ent that bonus bill be passed in
order to give them a chance to rec
ord themselves as worthy OF the
political support of the American
Legion and other bonus claimants.
II the scheme to report the Nc
Cumber bill Is carried out Senator
Smoot will try to have his paid mp
insurance plan substituted for IT,
This move is certain to fail. The
Utah Senator will then offer an
amendment to the McCumber bill
to provide cash bonus payable at
the end Of three years with revenues
to be derived from the sales tax,
which Is the only method for financ-
ing the bonus that will be acceptable
to the Administration.
In the present state OF the Sen
atorial mind the sales tax probably
will prove to be quite as unpopular
as the Smoot paid up Insurance plan.
Opposition 10 It. of course, will come
from the misinformed agricultural
elements of the country regarding
the virtues of the sales tax project
The prejudice against the sales tax
has been created by systematic prop
uganda designed to convince the |
farming elements that the adoption
of such a method for raising GOV
ernment revenue would place the
greatest burden on the rural popu-
lation of the country.
The American Legion, which oic-
tated the terms OF the McCum per
hill as the most acceptable Of the
that seemed to have any
chance OF getting through Congress
Is entirely Indifferent as to the naeth-
cd any bonus plan is financed SO
long as It provides spot money tne
larger part of the support OF 'n
bonus in Congress comes from the
and Representatives lroi"
agricultural sections.
The sales tax is the one plan tor
financing any bonus undertaAins
mat will be approved by the Presi-
dent. Yet the representatives OF the
agricultural sections, proclalmlhs
their sincere support of the oonus,
refuse TO sanction It and Will ol
course be responsible for the tallure
Of the bonus raid to receive oo'n
legislative and executive approval.
Meantime the muddle over the
bonus will continue until the views
of the President have either weanea
the agricultural Senators and Repre-
sentatives from their prejudices
against the sales tax or forced upon
members of both factions the con-
,Iusion that the logic of the situa-
ion be postponed until the country
S in better position to stand further
trains on the Treasury
Belief that the President Will
make known his disapproval Of the
NcCumber and Smoot projects in
lear cut and decisive manner has
Senator France (Rep"
Md to declare his opposition TO
,onus legislation this session. The
MARYLAND Senator, who is a candi-
late for reelection, is constituents
ire opposed to the bonus. He VIII
probably be opposed for renomina-
ion by Representative John Phillip
Hill. of Baltimore. Representative
am was one of the most ardent
advocates of the bonus in the lower
house. f
His friends assert that he will