Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1922-01-31
BONUS and Big BUSINESS
Republicans Rayc Themselves In
PerplexlRg Quaadary.
TAKES MONEY TO sATIFY SOLDIERS

Without Cost to Those Who Should
Pay.
:sRespecting the bonus, euphemistical-
ly termed adjusted compensation for
FORMER soldiers the Republicans in
congress are between y seyAa and
charybdis, or. "the devil and the deep
blue sea-" writes a. w. Roberts. well
known Washington correspondent.
This is an election year, and the Re-
pubiicans, II indications are at all
symptomatic, have reason to fear the
result They are very anxious to in
duige handsome gesture for the de-
lectation of the 100000 American
soldiers, and they would hastily do so
but for the fact that their conduct
would prove seriously offensive to big
: business They can not Increase ap-
.propriations without eliminating their
calm to economic administration. and
without adding to the burden" of the
very rich men, of the United States
many Of whom, incidentally, are alleg-
ed to have profteered during tine war.
II the Republicans could eat their
cake and stin have It,. the path ahead
would be smooth, indeed. fnasrnuch,
however, as they can not play both
ends against the, middle, they are
squlrming In mental and moral en-
barrassnent which by an their arti-
fce. they can not conceal. -
I'm the midst of it all, Andrew w.
Mellon, secretary of the treasury, is
proving a most embarrassing and dis
concerting factor. Mr.. Mellon is a
very rich man. He opposes the bonus
for the same reason which prompts
other very rich men to, oppose it. At
the same time, with the possession Of
much money, he Is politically inde-
pendent His judgment Is not biased
bylargument. based ontexpediency.
Did Not Oppose. n.
Ssrherefore, when Representative
Joseph Fordney of Michigan. chair
man of the ways and means commit
tee, conceived the idea that the Re-
pdblicans could pay the bonus and
at the same time, leave the treasury
intact, he called on the secretary Of
the treasury to assume the role Of the
''yes' man. But the secretary replied
that an attempt to pay the bonus with
interest to be collected in the indefi-'
mite future on the, s11, ,eOo. .O0o,e0e Eu-
ropean indebtedness to the United
States would be both inpracticable
and foolish.
Mr.. Mellon argued against the pay
ment of any bonus. Proceeding on the
theory that congress, despite his
advice, might proceed with bonus leg
islation, he presented figures indicating
that a bonus would cost the govern
ment $3.50, 100000 the first two years OF
its operation, > 81 ...
According to Mr.. Mellon, new taxes
must be voted. 1t is safe prediction
that the Republicans, even to satisfy
the soldiers, win not vote new taxes
this year. For this is an election year.
It is difficult to believe that even If
they retain control of both houses Of
congress-. they would be willing to
jeopardize their presidential chances
by; offering the money power next year,
or the year thereafter.
Democrats who are closely observ-
ing the situation admit that a great
deal depends on the attitude or the
action of the president. Some months
ago, the senate undertook considera-
tion of bonus bill oyer the protest
of only those senator's who are willing
sometimes to take their political lives
in their hand TO the end the public
good might. be conserved The presi-
debt appeared in person and explain
ing the condition OF the treasury, pro-
tested against the bill. The Repub!i-
cans Immediately dropped it. Secre-
tary Mellon is authority for the state
ment that there has occurred no radi-
cal change for the better in treasury
conditions. There is always the chance,
as result, that if Republican politicians
attempt again to put over the bonus on
the eve of the congressional campaigns
the president will again step in and
smash their idols.
.- Democrats Smile.
Democrats are openly smiling over
one of the reasons offered by Secretary
Mellon for opposing the payment of a
bonus with collections from owing
countries of Europe The secretary
referred to the fact that that money
should be used to pay interest on
Liberty and Victory bonds. In the main
such bonds have left the hands of the
people who bought them, and are in
safety deposit vaults OF the rich who
secured them at a discount. MELONS,
scheme would benefit these spectators
in non-interest bearing government Sc
curities, and for that reason 1t has very
little appeal to Democrats in congress.
Senator Watson Of Georgia, as is re-
called, desired TO make Liberty bonds
actual currency, but because such
transmution Of promissory notes would
rebound not at all to the people who
sacrificed in behalf of the country,