The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-02-22
LOOKING FOR
WAY TO RAISE
SOLDIER BONUS
Republican Leaders Are Not
Ready to Talk

Washington. Feb. 1.-THE sol
diers' bonus situation continued TO-
day TO be so ncbulous that Fepub-
lican house leaders still were an
prepared 10 venture even guess
as TO what plan Of financing uitl-
mately would be agreed upon. II
was understood 10 be their dispo-
sirion 10 let the question simmer :,
whilt. longer in the hope that sen-
timcnt would so shape itself Is TO
Facilitate the task OF those who VIII
frame the measure.
1t developed today that beneath
the surface OF the storm which
h:.., ragged around President Hard
in9'S suggestion that the bonus be
financed by Il sales tax. there has
been :: lot OF quiet talk in sup
port OF the proposal OF some lead
.re last geek lha, tho legislation
be made 4 general charge against
the treasury, with expected say
| ings through cuts in regular ap-
preparation bills relied upon for
the financing OF = portion OF the
initial cost.
When first suggested fy Repre-
sentative Mondcn. OF Wyoming.
the majority house leader. this
proposal seemed TO meet with con-
! siderable favor among the rank
and file in the house, but the idea
became all bat submerged by the
wave of talk that swept through
cloak rooms and corridors after
the presidents letter 10 Chairman
Fordney. Of the ways and means
committee, had reached the CAPT
tol.
] Irrespective OF the bonus. there
apparently was 4 dissemination in
The house 10 reduce sharply the
estimates for both the navy and
the army and that possibly 5000
900 900 would be cut out OF the
supply bills for those departments
lalone. Such sum, it was said
would so 4 long way toward meet
ing the first years cost of the
cash payments 10 the former str-
lvice men.
Views Of the majority member:
OF the ways and means committee
on this plan have not yet beer
publicly developed. These members
Will meet tomorrow to so into the
whole bonus question. but On i'm.
mediate decision as TO how the bO-
nus will be financed is not expect
ed. Proponents Of the sales tax
however. are understood 10 be pre-.
pared 10 force their fight in the
committee al the earliest opportu-
nifty.
Some opponents OF the sales levy
concede that there are sufficient
votes among the majority member:
of the committee 10 report GU,
such 4 tax. but declare the cues.
ton OF cXpcdicncy must enter into
the final decision. The first consid
Grafton. they said. is the probable
effect OF such Il tax on the minds
OF the people generally, and the
second the known effect that vii
be produced among Republican
members OF the house.
II such tax Is proposed to q
iparty conference, the opponents
assert they will renew the ffghl
which was waged successfully in :
similar conference in 1920 wher
the frs. bonus bill was presented
with q sales tax attached. Failing
TO win in the caucus. they declare
their fight would be carried 10 the
floor OF the house with the eNpec-
tation OF almost solid Support
from the Democrats.
II is understood to be the hope
OF leaders Of the agricultural bloc
that the committee will report oul
a bill without any specific provi-
sion for raising the funds. as the
senate finance committee did last
year. President Harding has said
that he colud not look with favor
on measure that did not carry
ways OF financing it. but it was
understood to he the thought o1
some OF the supporters OF such ;
bill that with a large sum madt
available through reductions If
the estimated cost OF conducting
the regular government establish
mcnt 4 situation would be created
which would remove executive OBJ
lection.