, 1922-02-13
COMPENSATION AND TAXATION.

There is no question Of the feelings of appreciation
and gratitude, on the part of the American people
for the men who served the nation in the day of her
need. The Republican party, as the chosen authority
to express the will of the people has endeavored to
give expression to the nationwide spirit.
1t is true that for two years or more after the
a~rinistice, there was a manifest failure to adequately
rare for those who were injured or we're disabled
through disease, but this was not due to lack Of sym
pathy or recognition of the obligation that rests upon
he nation. The administration then in power was de-
.nGuent in preparation for peace as it had been in
B reparation for war and the returning soldiers found
o proper provisions for their care. Immediately upon
aking charge of the administration Of the government
n 1921, the Republicans began reorganization of SOL
der relief and rehabilitation agencies and made larger
need of all this should have been readily apparent long
before the war was brought to a close and adequate
hospital space should have been ready in advance of
return of the crippled and disabled.
With few exceptions, the returned soldiers fully I'M
dcrstand the actual situation and know that delay in
caring for the injured was not an evidence of the lack
of appreciation on the part of the people. They know
the record Of the Democratic administration for mis-
mrnnrement from beginning to end, and they do not
hold the nation in general responsible.
In its endeavor to manifest its gratitude toward the
veterans, the Republican administration does not be-
lieve in Saying it with flowers" So far as money can
voice their acknowledgements, the American people
are willing to "Say it with dollars" No one assumes,
however, that the measure of our gratitude can be eN-
pressed in dollars, or that the veterans will SO accept
it. Such an assumption would be an insult not only
to the veterans but to all the people. So-callsd "bonus'
klSlhIl VI NJbolt 40 hSk al nv
tempt to pay the veterans for their servicss-it is an
effort to render additional help to those who need help
in getting 'back to normal"
When the nation has done all that It can do. It will
have fallen far short Of what it would like to do. In
an undertaking of such large proportions, there are
limits determined by economic laws beyond which the
nation cannot go without a reaction which would do
the soldiers NOR harm than good. To pay adjusted
compensation necessitates raising enormous sums of
money, and the only way to raise money is through
taxation. Taxation must eventually fall upon pro-
ducerS and when taxation passes certain limits, 1t be-
comes repressive Of production and injuries the whole
nation, the soldiers among the rest. 1t would little
proft q returned soldier to be paid a bonus il the taxa
ton measure destroyed the profits of the industry IN
which he had been employed and eventually cut of
more from his salary than he received in bonus. This
is e feature Of the problem to which thoughtless and
irresponsible people would give no heed: but which ma
tional legislators must keep constantly in mind.
Passing a bonus law means passing a tax law. Every
man who supports a bonus must, if he is honest, also
support a tax. The question before congress is not
therefore, one Of patriotism or Of gratitude. but the
intensely practical task of devising a tax that will pro
duee revenue for a bonus without doing more harm
than good.