The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1922-02-17
Says Bill VIII Pass.
nv The lInIirl Presa.l !

thy The ttitct Press
Washington. Feb. 1.-THE bonus
bill. to be framed by the house ways
and means committee within ten
days, will be passed by the republi-
can congress.
This was the statement which was
emphatically made today by Chair
man Fordney in speech to the
house OF representatives.
IN a letter addressed to Represen-
iatwe Fordney, President Harding
expressed his views on the bonus
moarure in part az follows:
ut continues to be my best judg.
mcnt that any compensation legisla-
tlon enacted at this time ought to
carry with II the provisions for rails
ing ulie needed revenues, and | find
myself unable to suggest any com.
niendable plan other than that of
general sales tax. Such q tax will
distribute to the cost of rewarding
the former service men in such
manner that 1t will be borne by all
the people whom they served and
does not commit the government to
class composition of taxes or the
resumption of the burden repeated.
the maintenance of which can be
transferred only by great war
emergency.
''It is fully realized how great the
difficulty is which confronts the
congress in solving this difficult
problem. | am aware of the strong
eminent in congress In favor of
this adjusted compensation. have
spoken approvingly myself, always
eith the reservation that the be.
jtowal shall be made when II may
he done without injury to the coun-
try as will nullify tho benefits to
the former service men themselves
which this expression OF gratitude
is designed to bestow.
1T is not an agreeable thing to
suggest that action be postponed
again. but frankly, do not find my
self favorable to the piecemeal pay
hlent plan, which Is manifestly de-
signed to avoid embarrassment to
the treasury. The long drawn out
payments will not afford an effec-
tive helpfulness to the service men.
eve have. no serious problem in
beginning the allotments of public
lanes and the immediate issue OF
paid-up insurance. The real diff
Guilty lies in the payment of the
cash bonds. Rather than provide
that the maximum cash payments
shall extend over period OF two
and one-half years, 1t would be vast
ly better bestoWal Ii we could await
the day when we may safely under
take to pay at once in full so that
the award may be turned to real adj
vantage.
"Inasnluch as the treasury Is to
be called upon to meet more than
$G,000,000 Of maturing obligations, in
the sixteen months Immediately be-
fore us, it is not possible to recon-
mend the issue of several hundred
millions OF additional short time
notes. Further excessive borrowings
would likely undo all that has been
accomplished in readjusting interest
rates and stabilizing the financial
world, both vitally essential to the
resumption Of industrial and conn.,
mercial activities.
Granting that it is not fair to
oppose any proposed plan without
offering substitute, let me repeat
that / believe the American people
will accept the levy of general
sales tax to meet the proposed bonus
payments, and we should contribute
thereby, no added difficulties to the
problems of readjustment. If con-
gress will not adopt such plan, it
would be wise to let legislation go
over until there is situation which
will Justify the large outlay. We
are driving for large economies, We
are pushing the disposition of sur
plus war property and have other
transactions under consideration
which ought to prove a great relief
(Continued on page two.)