The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1922-02-17
In the Meantime Senti-
ment Is More Or Less
Divided AS To What Is
the Best Course To
Pursue AS Between a
Sales Tax Or Extra
Levies On Specific Tax
able Items

Washington, Feb. 17.-"The soldier
bonus bill will be reported to Re-
publican caucus within the next ten
days and a Republican House will
PASS it," Chairman Fordney of the
ways and means committee declared
in the House today during discus
sion over the manner of its framing.
Consider Presidents Plan
Washington, Feb. II. - Majority
members of the House ways and
means committee, in whose hands the
soldiers bonus problem now rests,
before meeting today had indicated
they planned first to consider Pr2si-
dent Harding's suggestion that the
cash payments be deferred until they
could be made up in lump sum in
stead of spreading over a period of
two and a half years. 1t was stated
that officers of the American Legion
would be called in first to give their
views on this alternative which the
committee planned to examine instead
of taking up Immediately the question
of taxation or other means of financ-
ing the bonus.
Whether the bonus bill could be put
through with a general sales tax pro-
vision, as recommended by the presi-
dent in his letter yesterday as the
only alternative in his view, to post
ponement of the legislation was ar
gued by leaders generally today, both
Republican and Democrat, as too un-
certain to warrant prediction, in view
of the strong opposition to such tax.
Some of those favorable to such a
tax, however, believed that many of
those now opposed to it would come
to accept such a provision in the bill
rather than see the bonus program de-
feated.
UprOar In the House
Washington, FeE. 1.-THE public
was thrown into an uproar during
discussion of the measure after Rep
resentative Garner of Texas. ranking
Democrat on the commission, had
protested against the action of the
Republican members in calling a rep
rcsentative Of the American Legion
to advise with them at a secret ses-
sion from which Democrats were eX-
Cluded.
Representative Mondel, Wyoming, |
Republican leader, answered Mr.. Gar
ner and Chairman Fordney Joined !
the debate.
THE Republicans members of the
ways and means committee have not |
thought it proper to call in men un-
alterably opposed to the bonus for a |
discussion of that bill,' the chairman
declared. I'VE had before us today |
an officer of the Legion so we could
ask him for expert information and
he gave it. The bonus bill will be
presented to a caucus of house Re-
publicans in three days and a Repub-
lican House will pass it," The Re-
publican caucus will either agree
with what we have framed or will di-
rect us how to fix it."
In making his attack on the COM
mittee Mr.. Garner, without mention
ing names, had reference to the ap-
pearance of John Thomas Taylor of
the American Legion and Richard |
Jones, representing Veterans of For
eign wars, who were before the COM
mission today. Declaring there was
objections to Republicans working Sc
cretlv on the bill, Mr.. Garner rro-
tested against the action Of Repub-
lican members in having an executive
session at which witnesses were
called to determine legislation"
81 say frankly that this system
ought not to exist and the House
should prevent it," Mr.. Garner said.
"If the statement that the men APP
peared is correct it is an outrage on
the house. You have no right to hold
secret sessions and invite the Legion
people to tell you the character of
LEGISLATION desired without admitting
Democratic members
Mr.. Mondeil declared that the pro-
test of Mr.. Garner was neither mod
crate nor accurate" adding that the
same custom had prevailed during
Democratic control and Chairman
Fordnev declared that when the I'm
derwood bill was being framed DEM
-ocratic members called in a man
from New York to advise about the /
tax on lemons and the Democrats
took his advice and wrote it in the
bill.v