The Washington herald., 1922-04-21
Regarding the Bonus. =.

10 the Editor, The Washington Herald:
The transactions in stocks and
bonds on the New York Stock En-
change have aggregated approx
mately 800, 200. 900 a day since jan
uary /, 1922, from which source the
government receives no revenue
and the public no benefit. The
money involved represents that
much Withdrawn from legitimate
Industrial and commercial business
and the loans made for purposes of
this kind represent so much less
available for business purposes. A
sales tax OF 1 per cent of the amount
of daily transactions in sales, trades
or exchanges of this kind would not
only afford sufficient revenue to pay
for the bonus" the veterans of the
late war are clamoring for, but af-
ford additional revenue to meet
other expenditures of the govern
ment. Such a tax, while not con-
fiscatory, would at least have the
effect in addition to the revenue de-
rived. of driving some OF the money
into legitimate or productive indus
try and thus afford a means of re-
lieving some of the existing unem-
ployment. why not urge enact
ment of a sale tax?
Approaching the courtesy of The
Herald in giving space to my pre-
vious communication. l will request
further Indulgence to make reply to
those who criticised my remarks as
an opponent of the bonus. but in re-
turn offered no constructive plan to
raise the required revenue or gave
any reasons or basis for the JUS
81 l.s II. ssNxr0
want the money" Now with all
due respect to the opinions of 9TH
ers, isn't it rather queer that the
proponents of the bonus always be-
come incensed at and resort to per-
sonal abuse and attempt villifica-
ton of those who oppose their
views? II this cause is SO just and
equitSble why can 1t not be dis
cussed on its merits? Why not give
some justifiable reasons for the
bonus? Why make the granting
of it a blanket proposition SO as to
cover any and every one regardless
of their need or desire for this pay
ment? Is is so questionable that 1t
must be blanketed so that the ma
jority may secure the benefits which
the few deserving should have" Is
every Stacker commissioned officer.
deferred classification man. or yeo-
manette. who had a bomb proof
job. at Washington or the various
service establishments. as deserving
as the boys who went to France
and suffered privations and incon-
venierces of service in the field?
In difference to the sensibilities of
the proponents OF this measure I
shall speak of it as adjusted COM
pensation," as they appear to re-
sent the use of the word bonus"
probably as smacking too much OF
the reaf thing, that is graft" How
ever. rose under any other name
would smell just as sweet: likewise
skunk would lose none of its
Odoriferous qualities or attributes
under any other name, so adjusted
compensation" will prove none the
less onerous to the average Amer
lean citizen.
The frankness of one of these ad-
vocates in the open court columns
must be ADMIRED. He admitted
having "got hfs' as a "profiteer" in
1917 prior to entering the service.
He failed to state. however. that he
went into the service as a commits
stoned officer. probably to avoid be-
ing drafted, and not alone satisfied
with the salary he received. put in
a claim for additional salary above
his grade which was disallowed by
the proper accounting officers. He
also admits that as a Contractor he
pays men their demands without
regard to the real worth of their
product and as he admits making
money, the only solution is that he
is passing on these unreasonable
wages in the cost of his construc-
tion work as well as an additional
profit The paying public has long
suspected that it is being made the
goat" but 1t is seldom that the
war profiteers who cannot seem to
let go of their practices will be so
frank and openly admit it. This
same gentleman also asserts that
soldiers of prior wars were granted
a bonus. IL that is true then appar-
emily members of my family as well
as myself have something coming
to them. Now IL the gentleman will
be SO kind as to supply information
as to his authority or a reference
to the laws covering same I shall
not only be greatly obliged to him
but shall contribute the entire
amount to which entitled to the in
capacitated soldiers at Walter Reed
or any other general hospital the
gentleman will Indicate. With ref
erence to ciyil war veterans. what
the gentleman undoubtedly had in
mind was the bounty" which was
paid as an inducement to get men
into the service, not a "gift" paid
afterward for service rendered as