The New York herald., 1922-02-17
FRIDAY. FEBRUARY. IT, 1922.
The President and the Bonus.

The President and the Bonus.
In his letter to Chairman FoRDNEY
President HARDING refers sympatheti-
cally to the deep sentiment of Con-
rress in respect of the soldier bonus,
but says he cannot commend TO Con-
gress a bonus bond or short term
note issue at the present time when
the Government has it's hands full to
refinance its maturing obligations.
He further says he cannot commend
to Congress it's tentative scheme Of
taxation for bonus purposes.
The President says he has spoken
approvingly himself of bonus for
soldiers, though he doubts the wis
dom of action now, because in his
judgment they should get the entire
bonus in one payment if it could
safely be done. If Congress should
favor this entirety payment the Presi-
dent suggests a postponement OF
bonus legislation, intimating that the
pressure on Government finances
ought to be less heavy little later.
Then discussing the matter from
still another angle the President
brings forward the sales tax as about
the only thing left in sight as a
money raising plan if Congress is
insistent on jamming the bonus
measure through now.
THE New YORK HERALD had hoped
to see the President take stronger
and more definite stand. THE New
YORK HERALD is fatty opposed to the
bonus on principle. 1t has main
tanned, and does maintain, that the
Government is not called upon to pay,
bonus to it's young men for doing
the thing that is the price of citizen
ship. The bonus debases the soldier
in his own heart and in the eyes Of
the citizenship of his country.
Moreover, THE New YORK HERALD
is opposed to the bonus as an unwar
ranted tax on the American people.
The truth is that this measure is not
a matter of conscience with Congress.
On the contrary, it is just Il cold
blooded raid on the national Treasury
for personal political advantage.
AS for the suggested sales tax of
the President, it means chiseline out
of the people the same five thousand
millions of dollars that the Govern
ment would have to chisel out of the
people on any other scheme of taxa
tion. or on a bond issue, to pay the
bonus.
The difference between the sales
tax and the other plans for getting
the money is that the sales tax hits
everybody, even down to the infant
in the cradle. The sales tax plan
doesn't call for one cent more or one
cent less than the other plans for
raising the money. 1t is always the
same five thousand millions of
dollars.
In similar situation in 1875, when
Congress passed a bill entitled "An
act to equalize the bounties of SOL
diers who served in the late war for
the Union" President GRANT vetoed
il in a thoroughly characteristic note.
Here is what he said of the measure:
March 2, 1875.
"To the House of Representatives..
House Bill No. 3341 Is herewith re-
turned without my approval for the
reasons. first, that it appropriates
from the Treasury large sun. Of
money at time when the revenue
Is insufficient for current wants ana
this proposes a further drain on the
Treasury. The issue of bonds au-
thorized by the bill to very large
and indefinite amount would seri
ousy embarrass the refunding oper-
ations now progressing, whereby the
interest Of the bonded debt of the
United States is being largely re-
duced
Second. I do not believe that any
considerable portion Of the ex.sol-
diors who. II is supposed. vii! be
the benehciaries of this appropria-
ton. are applicants for It, but cher
r would result more in measure
for the relief of claim agents and
mt1dlemen. who would intervene to
-orect or discount the bounties
granted by it. The passage OF this
bill at this time is inconsistent with
the measures of economy now de-
manded by the necessities Of the
country. l.. s. GRANT"
Here is another pertinent opinion
on the bonus question. Tt comes
from Governor MILLER of New York,