New-York tribune., 1922-02-18
Bond Issue Urged

| iSutlHS IdIu 1Cl Dill NnlCll
does not carry any tax provisions at
all, the soldier group insists that the
President will not take the responsi-
billty Of veto. On the other hand,
a considerable group of Senators is
convinced that the bond issue is the
best way out, and it's members do
not believe the President would veto
a bonus bill with this feature.
Anxious inquiries were addressed toI
the White House to-day along this Incl
but the President was ademant in de-
clining to go into the realm Of propi
ecy as to what he would do in any given
circumstances. He made it clear that
he would reserve the right to do As
he thought best when the time came
He has learned the consequences OF
making promises. AS he frankly CON
fessed witt. regard to his promises for
the bonus made during his Presidential
primary campaign.
On the House side there IS apparent
a strengthening sentiment for reviv-
ing the excess profits tax. but it needs
very little investigation at the Senate
end cf the Capitol TO show that if
ing revival of this tax il would be
promptly rewritten. There would be ii
fight made by strong element to sub
stitutc the bond feature, while another
element, probably headed by Senator
Watson, of Indiana would attempt to
follow the Presidents idea by incud-
ing sales tax.
Watson Drafts Measure
Senator Watson has prepared the
tentative draft Of a bill which would
raise the bonus fund by sales tax
on specific articles, many Of them
luxuries. He showed it to some Sena-
! tors for their consideration to-day
aging that such tax had been i'm
posed shortly after the Civil War and
had proved entirely successful al that
/ time.
The whole situation is almost un-
bclevaby confused, due naturally TO
/ the fact that no party question is in
volved, plus the fact that almost no
one is being moved by questions of
principle or anything else save votes
at the next election in his particular
district if he is a member Of the
! House. or state if he is Senator.
Senator Borah, who is opposed to the
bonus, said his mail was flooded with
! letters approving the stand he had
taken against the bill. Only few,
Senator Borah said, criticized him. He
added that some American Legion
members had written him saying they
opposed the bonus
Fordney's Statement Applaudcd
Despite outspoken admissions at
both ends of the Capitol Chairman
Fordney. Of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, told the House to-day that his
committee will present the bonus bill
to conference of Republicans within
ten days. His announcement was fol-
lowed by loud applause
| At the same time, however. it was
learned that the only organized effort
n'atlc by the committee or. in fact, by
any one in Congress TO agree on pro
gram was fruitless. The attempt al
an executive session this morning to
seek a simplification of the whole prob
! lem BY sounding out the American
Legion on the possibility Of elirninat
ing the troublesome cash feature got
nowhere. John Thomas Taylor, vice
chairman of the Legion's national
legislative committee, told the commit
tee that the veterans organization
stood on its action at its recent con-
vention in Kansas City. when it de-
clared for the five-point plan, including
the cash feature.
If Taylor's statement is final and the
American Legion will not listen to
knocking out the cash option it Is
declared there is but one course which
can be expected from the Ways and
Means Committee, especially in view
of the chairman's announcement After
! "s'Sly weeks elaboration, it will
report out the bill, carrying as its
revenue provision some form of gem
eral sales tax to pay the bonus. The
Ways and Means Committee has long
been strongly in favor of the bonus.
it is pointed out, and with the limita-
tion placed upon it by the President
1t has but one move open.
! Secret Session Attacked
Mr.. Fordney's statement on the floor
OF the House was the result of hecklinp
by representative John Garnc., Of