The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1922-03-23
Extracts from Speech by Senator b or


t perhaps entertaining the consideration
e Of the members of congress more than
q any other question now on the calen-
e dar or to be on the calendar in the
D immediate future l think, therefore,
D it not inappropriate to discuss the sub
e ject.
There are two features of the ques-
. ton which Immediately present them
selves for consideration. The first is
the economic feature of it; the other
involves a fundamental principle of
government. The former question is,
perhaps. the more immediate and vital,
although the latter should in the end
be more controlling. 1 shall not under
take to discuss the latter question at
thepresent time. but, as the debate
proceeds. it will undoubtedly give rise
to discussion.
Mr.. President how are we going to
pay the bonus? There is no trouble
about voting an appropriation so long
as we can vote it out of the air; so
long as we merely vote the appropria-
ton and trust to Divine Providence to
get the money. When we announce,
however, that we are going to lay tax
upon automobiles or that we are going
to lay a tax upon gasoline or that we
are going to lay a tax upon postage or
that we are going to impose a sales |
tax, then a different situation imme-
diately arises for there are more tax
payers in the United States than there
on ~
mediately becomes serious.
1t has been proposed thus far to
raise the tax in several different ways
l understand that none of them has
yet been accepted or agreed upon,
largely for the reason that as soon as
it was divulged that a tax was to be
laid here or there the protest was so
keen and so determined that it was
thought wise to shift it somewhere
else 1t would be ludicrous if it were
not tragic.
Mr.. President, L have no fear of the
passage of a bonus bill if there be in
cluded in the bonus bill the method OF
paying the bonus; but 1 venture the
prophecy now that, after some weeks
VI L.
to what particular industries or what
particular cOmmodies are going to be .
taxed, the question of how the tax is
going to be raised will be abandoned
and we shall pass the bonus bill with ,
out providing for. any method of pay
ing it, We will take a reckless chance
that in some way or somehow we will
find way to put on this burden and
hope to conceal the fact from the tax
payers and the country. l prophesy :,
you will have trouble. Your proposals -
have called the people to the watch
tower, they know now that whether -
you put it in this bill or a separate .
bill that they must meet it. 1t is too -
late to soOthe their anxiety by a little l.
piece of legislative legerdemain =
Mr.. Jones of New Mexico. In that .
I desire to join in the pro-
Dhecy which the senator from Idaho
mas just made. 1t will be exceedingly
gratifying to me to know, and I should CO
ike to inquire if the senator can in al
orm me, of any reason why there TT
should be attached to the bonus bill a IN
evenue measure for thepurpose of II
laying the burdens which will be i'm W
'osed by it any more than a revenue ia
Measure should be attached to every al
ther appropriation bill which comes tn
efore the congress?
Mr. Borah. Mr.. President, of course an
he only reason why we should attach o.
method of paying the appropriation ov
'hich will be provided by the bill is to we
ave the money with which to pay it, til
he soldier, perhaps would like to feel tn
nat it will be paid. The secretary of of
ne treasury has told us that there is 70
othing with which to pay it. We must DIR
lcrease taxes somewhere; we must In
ther increase them in this bill or we
ave got to pass an additional tax bill. ap
Re have not now sufficient means eff
it'll which to pay the bonus. Then, tn,
by not provide the method Of its ess
lyment in the bill itself? OF course, 1t
we had sufficient funds in the treas the
y to pay the appropriation which will an,
required. there would be much force the
the position which the senator from the
ew Mexico takes, but we have not sui
Efficient funds. We must either write yer
e method into the bill or we must me
SIS an additional bill carrying the unit
cessary taxes, and, so far as the tax tas
yer is concerned, it will not make wal
y difference to him. nee
Mr.. Jones of New Mexico. The sena- sac
r from Idaho has just indicated that resi-
der appropriations already made or out
ntemplated there will be a deficit of but
)O,O00OOO Why should not the con- beir
ess in making appropriations have ind
ticipated that situation and provided the
the bill making the appropriation gro,
method for raising the revenue? fellc
+ this compensation is to be paid to asks
'se men, why single this bill out as a com
icle, If you please. through which It "
carry tax measures, which would cour
otherwise be enacted? If the bonus vadi
to be paid. If it is to be a burden othe
N the Government why not raise next