The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-18
GOVERNMENT ENGINEER SA VS. LEASE OF MUSCLE SHOALS
WOULD HANDICAP WATER POWER DEVELOPMENT OF FSOUTH
BONUS BILL READY FOR CAUCUS
IN TEN DAYS, FORDNEY STATES
Republicans Declared That No
Power i'm the House Can Head
Off Soldier Bonus Now.
tey The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-The out
standing development today in the
bonus legislation situation was an un-
! expected announcement in the house
by Chairman Fordney of the house
ways and means committee that the
bonus bill would 6e ready for pre-
sentation TO a caucus of house repub-
licans within the next ten days.
A moment after this statement was
made there was a shout from the re-
publican side of the chamber when the
chairman, lifting his voice to its high
est pitch, declared the soldier meas
uro would be passed by a republican
house.
Breaking into the thick of q row
over charges by Representative Gar
ner of Texas, ranking democrat on the
committee that the bill was being
framed secretly with the aid of rep
resentatives of the American Legion,
Mr. Fordney shouted to the democratic
side that the republicans did not deem
it proper to seek advice on the bonus
, bin from those unaiterably opposed
TO it.
While there was no other reference
to the bonus on the floor, bonus talk
swirled through the corridors and for
the time being discussion of the plans
for cutting the army and navy appro-
priatien bills was forgotten. RepubH-
can members of the ways and means
committee, meeting morning and aft
ernoon, went over details of the pro-
posed bill, without giving any intima
70 Nf
ure to be reported. The calling in of
John T. Taylor, vice-chairman of the
legion's legislative committee, and
Richard Jones, representing veterans
of foreign wars, provoked the protest
of Mr.. Garner and his appeal that the
house step in and prevent republicans
meeting in secret with witnesses fav-
oring the measure, without admitting
democratic members to listen, at
least. to the deliberations.
How far sentiment was swinging to
the sales tax as a means of raising
revenue for the bonus, as advocated
by President Harding, was the subject
OF unending discussion among mem
bers. It was evident on all sides, how
ever that the republicans were deter
mined to put the bill through the
house, regardless of what might hap
pen to it in the senate. In the event
the bin is in shape for consideration
by republican caucus within the time
set aoy Mr.. Fordney, leaders said it
would be passed prior to March 4.
There is no power in the house to
head off the soldier bonus now said
a republican leader. which seemed to
be the view of most members insist
ing upon its early passage.
Democrats opposing the measure, in
sisted that on the other hand, objec-
ton to the sales tax was strong in
some quarters, that if that plan OF
meeting soldier payments was present
ed squarely It might be defeated.
But if the sales tax method is re-
sorted to, il was said, President Hard
ing would view with favor a tax on
production rather than on general
sales. THE executive was said 10 ravor
this form, for it was, he believed, the
simplest form Of this tax and would
avoid problems Of exemptions, which
would probably arise in case a general
retail sales tax was decided on.
Opposition to the sales tax proposal.
however, was expressed in several
quarters today. T. C. Atkeson, Wash
ington representative of the National
Grange characterized it as designed
to shift the burden of taxation from
those most able to pay it to those least
able topay," and Samuel Gompers,
president OF the American Federation
of Labor, declared that it would work
an injustice upon the whole people,