The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-05-26
BONUS time
NOT RIPE,
GARY SAYS
Load of Taxation Should
Be Iightened, Steel
Head Asserts.

New York, May 26.-Elbert H.
Gary. in his address as president
of the American Iron and Steel
Institute. in session at the Hotel
Commodore today, advocated that
congress take the tariff out of poll
tics. that it play no favorites in its
tendency to regulate things, that it
substitute a sales tax for the income
tax, and that it forget the soldier
bonus until the nation is less
severely burdened financially.
As for the business future OF
America, Mr. Gary declared him
self as still an optimist. In the
iron and steel industry, he said,
"the profits are not satisfactory,
but few, if any, ought to be doing
busines sat a loss.
PITY the blind, deaf and foolish
pessimist Of the United States," ne
adjured members of the institute.
Thinks congressman Honest.
In a remark which he said was
inserted 'as a tone of consolation
and hope" the steel magnate as
serted that congressman are like
the ordinary run of individuals
most of them honest and we'll in
tentioned, but few are possessed
Of less merit"
The idiosyncrasies of individuals
occupying places in legislative
halls are no better and no worse
than they are in other places. AS
the world grows better its inhabi-
tants will more and more exercise
rare and common sense in the selec-
ton of their representatives"
AdVersity Still Present.
We have not, think, passed 81
tirely from under the clouds of
diversity" he said. Certainly we
are carrying hitherto unheard of
heavy governmental financial bur-
dens At best these will not soon
be fully discharged. To bear them
gracefully and contentedly there
must be not only forbearance, en-
couragement and assistance from
every department of government Up
to the limit of propriety and JUS
tice, but there must also be enter
tanned by every individual, consist
emily and constantly, a spirit OF
patience, pluck, energy, generosity
loyalty and charity fully to his OF
her intelligence"
Divorce Politics and Tariff.
The tariff question, he declared
should be delegated for investiga-
ton to a commission of well-paid
high-minded, intelligent, competent
and non-partisan appointees, au-
thoriZed to ascertain and communi-
cate the facts and figures. Their
reports should be frequent so that
II deemed necessary a change or
amendment to the tariff laws could
be made at any time congress is
In session.
"As between parties, the main
differences, as l see it, is that the
Republican party has stood for a
protective tariff and the Demo
cratic party for a tariff for reve-
hue The settlement for this con-
troversy should include both"
In a plea for impartial govern
mental control, where it is under
taken, he insisted that ''all lines
and departments of economic ac-
tlvity of similar Importance should
De subjected to the same treat
ment."
The bonus question" he de-
clared, lis not yet ripe for determi-
nation. Even though there may be
Two sides to the question as TO
: whether or not a soldier who has
escaped disability, physical and
mental, should be paid or ask pay
ment Of a bonus, it would not be
useful for US to consider or form
opinions on that question at pres
ent.
Soldiers Need Work.
Former soldiers, like all others,
need opportunity to work, and 10
continuously furnish this chance,
Il courage and capital should be given
70 industry The load of taxation
ought to be lightened, not in
creased Enterprise has staggered
Snoer this burden. 1t would not
Oe difficult to break its back"
Inc present income tax is too ex-
Pensively collected, he asserted,
and many who are able TO pay
escape. For the good of all the
people a sales tax is desirable"