Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-03-03
Friday, March 3, 1922.
GETTING EXCITED

Both Congress and the folks back
home are getting somewhat excited
over the soldiers bonus. The ex-
service man who did his bit" with
out thought of reward and was proud
Of it-some of them in the beginning
Of it all would no doubt have re-
rented any implication that the Gov
eminent could or should pay them
for what they did-has since been
talking 1t over. thinking about what
few hundred dollars would do
toward getting his feet placed" Or
getting a home. a wife or job,
thinking, too, of the fellow who
didn't have 10 go and made a good
thing out of 1t. and he has warmed
Up TO that bonus idea. He is more
than warm Just now. it would seem
And being in this state of mind. and
thinking OF what he would do with
his cash. any proposition to give him
something In place of it doesn't ap-
peal TO him, probably wouldn't appeal
It would be better in the long run.
Such being the state of affairs Mr..
Hoover's suggestion for a form of
government insurance didn't appear
10 make a favorable impression.
Some thirk the Government isn't any
more efficient in its insurance man
cement than il is in most other af-
fairs. But a dilemma resembling a
deadlock is at hand. The President
does not favor a bonus at this time
unless the country is to pay for it
without passing the buck: Congress
doesn't want to assume the RESPONSE
lility of a sales tax and doesn't see
any way TO pin it on to profiteers or
other rich folks. It should hive too
much sense to make it dependent on
The contingency of the foreign loans.
voting something to the ex-service
men which II doesn't have and isn't
sure of getting. That would prove a
boomerang that couldn't be lodged.
And here is a newly developed fea-
ture Of the situation; this matter of
the bonus has gone so far that Con-
gressmen won't get any credit from
the recipients If they give them a
bonus and will get the reverse of
credit from a large part of their con-
stituency. In other words the oppor-
tunity to make political capital out of
II has gone n glimmering. Congress
should see that the only thing to do
Is the right thing if it shall be posi-
BILE to determine what that may be-
II is but natural it should wish to do
what the larger number of the con-
stituents wish; it will be wise if it
shall accomplish that which will meet
with approval after being tried out
All these expenditures ultimately
come out of the people and a proper
sales tax. all things considered, would
probably he as fair as any method of
raising the cash for immediate de-
mands. Anyhow it would not be
Passing the debt on to the next gen.
Grafton or taking it from the present
by stealth and indirection., It would
he paying as we went. But just now
there is need of all our cash and in
It's dilemma Congress is turning to
eXpcdionts. The latest is plan
whereby an eX-service man could Sc
cure loans from banks and obviate
the necessity of immediate cash ex-
rrnditure by the Government.
It is to be hoped something comes
of this effort TO work out a practical
bic plan. Some have felt the Presi-
dent should have been more insist
cnt on a definite policy: that Con-
gress lacks leadership. Such a con-
clusion is premature. If Congress
shall be found unable to devise a
method, a sensible way out of the
targlo. then the conclusion will be
fitting. although justice requires con-
slderation of the very evident fact
that the problem is a very knotty
one.