New Britain herald., 1922-02-20
LEGION DEMANDING
 PASSAGE OF BONUS
Commander MaCNider CritiCiZeS
 Harding for His Stand

Washington Feb. 20. National Commander Hanford MacNidcr of the American Legion has attacked Presi- dent Harding by telegraph for his bonus letter.
 "'rhe American Legion" runs the message made public by the Neter- ans bureau here, speaking for near ly 5,OoO,000 returned service men and women and 15,O00,000 to 20,000, ,o00 more of their immediate families, who do not understand first commit ment and then retraction, asks that the passage of the adjusted compen- sation bill be no longer delayed.
 Had capital and labor been draft ed when mems lives were drafted, the present aggravated situation could not exist. When it was a question of reimbursing manufacturers for war contracts never fulfilled, requiring some S3,000. .000,000, no such hue and cry was raised.'
 For Eivc-Fold Bill
 The president is advised that the legion, feeling that the nation wants this debt recognized and not confused or endangered by opposition to rev enuc raising riders, asks that the five fold adjusted compensation bill be passed
 Again the president is told that "the American Legion firmly believing that it is expressing the sentiment of the people of the United States, asks that q committed administration allow the passage of what we believe to be the most constructive measure that can be devised"
 Meanwhile the sabbath of rest has brought no relief to the worried con greSsmen. Nobody knows what the bonus outcome is going to be. Con gross continues to explain that sales tax cannot be passed The mountain of mail demanding or protesting against the enactment of the law, with or without q sales tax grows higher. The president insists still that it is the business of congress to provide the revenue. The situation is neither clarified nor improved since the presidents letter was made pub lie.
 House Leaders Tackle Job
 The house ways and means commit tee begin in earnest today to tackle the big problem, which is how and where to get the money. Leaders look for a decision upon some. course before the end of the day, but the sessions may continue over two or three days
 First of all, it will be up to the committee to decide whether house bill No. 1. with it's tive-foid plan of adjusted compensation, shall carry with it any provision for raising the money required. This determined, the question will fall upon the methcd.
 Virtually every plan of taxation or bond issues has been eliminated. It is doubtful if any of these will be re- vived, unless an effort is made to write the excess profits taxes back in- to the law.
 only the presidents suggestion of a general sales tax is before the com mttce. The committee two years ago reported the bonus hll with a sales tax incorporated. The complexion of the committee has not changed mater ially since and the indications are that a majority Of the republicans may be found in the committee to support the president.
 one thing is certain. The sentiment of the committee is against postpone ment Of the whole matter as suggest cd by President Harding. Officers of the American Legion told the com mittee last week they could not agree on that. The committee accordingly On Friday agreed to the alternative fve-fold method of compensation, leaving open the question of raising the money.