South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-09-01
SEPTEMBER /. 1922
DON'T SPEND IT-YET

The passage OF any bonus measure by the senate
Il a great victory for public opinion. but just a
tip TO the boys who should and will one day receive
this adjusted compensatton-don't spend It yet
II IS significant that the vote by which It was
passed not a partisan one. Democrats and re-
puoleans voted for It. Democrats and repubI-
voted against It. That is as # should be- for
he bonus adjusted compensation was too big
thing TO be party issue It is based upon the
eternal principle OF justice and plain honesty
While the measure itself is answer to the
public demand for honesty the legislation itself Is
not honest and under it. there is little likelihood
OF any immediate payments to the service men,
The measure first passed by the house carried
with it provision for raising funds with which
10 meet the obligation. That was deslgnedIy So
Tor the members. fearing the effect upon their
Political futures II they failed pass some measure
hoped to escape censure by passing a bill which
would be killed in the senate amended there so
as 70 relieve them Of any responsibility.
The members who take credit voting for the
bonus measure are deliberately misleading their
constituents. The they passed was as
worthless soviet money.
When the senate received the bill they were told
plainly BY President Harding that he would veto
the unless provided for revenues to meet
il unless the method adopted was the sales tax
That suggestion honest and courageous and
sensible. In the end. the PEOPLE pay this bill
Tile sales tax would be the least cumbersome
method o. collecting it.
Relying upon that~threat to veto. many Of the
senators who voted for the measure did so in the
belief tina it would be killed by the veto and voted
20 put into the bill the provision that it is to be
paid from interest the money loaned to foreign
countries.
The palpabe dishonesty Of this scheme lies in
the fact that the interest from those debts was
pledged the buyers of Liberty Bonds during the
war a of repayment. More dishonest is
the fact that such provision makes the debt to
the men who were Disseminated against during
the dependent upon the solvency Of warning
and BANKRUPT Europe
Now the measure must go 10 a conference That
an agreement can be reached is pcoblematicaL
That 1t Will result in the substitution of the
tax for the senate method is than improbable.
Even If they do agree some scheme the bill
must then go President Harding who has oreny
announced that he will veto it.
Aside from the probability that the measure
cannot be passed over the veto. aside from the
further fact that the measure as drafted would
probably be set aside by the supreme court the
demand of the people for honest treatment of the
men in uniform has been answered
II the people had their wish. the debt would be
paid this year. AS a matter Of fact it Is not likely
that any payments be made for many months
So cheer up. boys. The people with you.
measure from reluctant and secretly hostile
etc some day you will collect an honest debt from
honest government
That will probably come after the fourth of next
March when a new congress assemblies Until that
time have al the fun you in igureng how
you are goipg to spend your share-but don't spend
IT, yet.