Arizona republican., 1922-02-20
CUTS
WILL CARRY
FUNDS
YEAR
MondeII Proposal Favored
BY Opponents Of Sales
Tax Plan Advanced By
President Harding
[RepublIcan A. p. Leased wirsl

WASHINGTON. Feb. 10--The sol
diers bonus situation continued today
to be so nebulous that Republican
house leaders still were unprepared
to venture even a guess as to. what
plan OF financing ultimately would
be agreed upon IT was understood
to be their determination TO lot the
matter SINNERS a while longer in or
der that sentiment would so shape
itself as to facilitate the task or
those who will frame the measure.
1t developed today that beneath
the surface of the storm which has
ragged around President Harding's
suggestion that the bonus be IL
nanced by a sales tax there has been
a. lot of quiet talk in support OF the
proposal advanced by some leaders
last week that the legislation be
made a general charge against the
treasury with excepted savings
through cuts in regular appropriation
bin relied upon for the financing OF
a portion OF the initial cost.
When first suggested by Repre-
sentative Mondell OF Wyoming the
majority house leader. this proposal
seemed to meet with considerable
favor among the rank and file in the
house. but the idea became ali but
submerged by the wave OF talk that
swept through cloak rooms and cor
ridors after the presidents letter 70
Chairman Fordney Of the ways and
means committee had reached the
capitol.
irrespective of the bonus. there ap
parently was a determination in the
house to reduce sharply the estl-
mates for both the navy and the
army and that possibly s200.00o.0oO
would be cut out Of the supply bills
for those departments alone. Such
A sum. IL was said. would so q lope
way toward meeting the first years
cost OF the cash payments TO the
former service men.
Force Sales Tax Fight
Views OF the majority members 81
the ways and means committee on
this plan have not yet been publicly
developed. These members viii meet
tomorrow to so into the whole bonus
question. but an immediate decision
as to how the bonus will be financed
is not expected Proponents OF
sales tax however. are understood
to be prepared to force their fight IN
the committee at the earliest oppor-
tunity
some opponents OF the sales levy
concede that there are sufficient
votes among the majority members
Of the committee 10 report out such
a tax. but declare the question or
expediency must enter into the nnal
decision. The first consideration.
they said. is the probable effect OF
such a tax on the minds OF the peo-
pie generally, and the second the
known effect that will be produced
among Republican members or the
house. II such tax is proposed n
a party conference. the opponents
assert that they will renew the fight
which was waged successfully IN
similar conference in 1920 when the
first bonus bill was presented win
4 sales tax attached. Failing TO win
IN the caucus, they declare their tight
would be carried to the floor OF the
house with the expectation OF almosi
solid support OF the Democrats ~
is understood 10 be the hope or lead
ers OF the agricultural bloc that the
committee will report out the Dill
without any specific provision tof
raising the funds as the senate IL
nance committee did lost year. Pres
ident Harding has said that he could
not look with favor on a measure
that did not carry ways OF financing
IL but II was understood TO be the
thought OF some OF the supporters
of such a bill that with large sum
made available through reductions m
the estimated cost of which would
remove executive objection.