New-York tribune., 1922-02-23
House Plans
Fo>Postpone
Bonus Action
Delay of Several Weeks Is
Forecast as Hope Gains
Of Early Returns From
Foreign Debt Payments

from Tie 7oiopne's Washington Du~ccg
WASll1NGTON, Feb. 2.-Inclinatjon
toward temporary postponement Of
the soldier bonus question vas indi-
Gated to-day by the sub-c committee Of
the House Ways and Means Committee
which has been working on the problem
Of raising revenue needed for the cash
option. After two rcsultlcss eessious
1t was announced that the next meeting
would not be held until Friday or
Saturday.
This deliberate delay, it vas ad-
nittcd, is not forced BY any sudden or
unexpected development, but is the re
suit of q coordination Of influences Just
reaching fully nppreciable proportions.
The most Outstanding of these is the
unofficial claim OF members Of the
agricultural group thai they have now
lined up approximately 100 votes
against thc sales tax
TIE strength OF tie farm bloc's on
position, which has become well organ
ized only within the last day or so. is
Just being fully realized by Chairman
lordney and his committee, and they
now face a serious doubt that general
Republican conference would approve
tie bonus bill with the sales tax as
the means of raising the funds.
Hopes in Foreign Debt Revive
Coupled with this element Of the
aituation is declared to be constantly
growing sentiment in both Houses Of
Congress for holding of the bonus
Legislation for few weeks, o. until
some definite indication is given Of
whether ii will be possible to look to
The work Of the foreign debt funding
commission for aid.
There arc many IN Congress who
feel that the first negotiations with
the debtor nations will show that the
bonus can be paid out Of interest pay
ments on the debts TO this country.
Advocates OF this plan have added new
converts to their ranks in the last few
days and members Of the committee
now recognize The pressure they are
c2lerting, especially in view OF the
Mr. Harding is not antagonistic to the
proposal to pay the bonus out OF the
proceeds OF the sale in the United
States of foreign bonds accepted on
| the debt payments, provided that course
! has the approval OF the funding COM
mission.
Becauee Of the strength Of this sent
ment. the fear that the sales tax
would have little chance aud the cur
rcnt Of reaction beginning to come in
! from home districts, in line with the
stand taken by President Harding in
his Last bonus message, the temper of
IVA l'.,-c Il ~ %cn 70
night, rs expressed by one Of the mem
bers, representative Nicholas Long
worth. Of Ohio. is for letting things
simmer little" This actually means,
, it was reliably stated that the com
nittecmen Will take soundinQs in the
next few days to feel out the kind Of
waters ahead Of the proposal to let the
bonus sleep for few weeks.
Members Feel Reaction
"A good many Of the members fceI
that the great reaction has come eN
planned Mr.. Lorgworth. "Thcy believe
that there is strong continent for
3 temporary postponement and arc
disposed to wait until a number Of eX-
rectcd Developments have matnred."
The two sessions of the b-commit-
tee to-day were devoted toogeneral dis
cussion Of the sales tax. Sentiment
Was declared TO nave TuN toward Z
small blanket manufacturers and pro-
ducers' sales tax, following generally
the form of the Canadian levy. The
plan would be, in opposition to Secre-
tary Melons suggestion for q Tax on
certain definite list Of commodities,
to place a direct tax on all except a
list Of exemptions, which would in
cludc foods, livestock, mineral prod
ucts. lumber, newspapers, ship and
ship parts, and many other absolute
necessities"
Treasury Actuary Mccoy informed
the committee that the Canadian form
of sales tax, if applied to American
business, would yield approximately
$3.50, ,000,0 900 year. This is at the y
per cent and 8 per cent rates, apply
ing, respectively, on deliveries By man
ufacturers to dealers and b. dealers
TO consumers.
Would Take German Colonies
Senator France, of Maryland, in a
speech in the Senate, held it was i'm
practicable to pay the soldiers the cash
bonus now and proposed to have the
United States accept the former Ger
tCcntinusd paso thrso>