Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-16
HARDINCS views
ON BONUSPLAN
ARE DELAYED
Failure to Give Expected
Decision Leaves Con-
gress in a Quana'ary
ACTIVITY SUSPENDED
Volume of Protests Against New Tax
alton From All Over the Country
Continues to Increase

Washington, Feb. 16.-Either
through indecision or delay in re-
ceiving necessary data from the
Treasury, President Harding failed
Yesterday to communicate his re-
vised views yesterday regarding sol
der bonus legislation to the joint
committee of Congress considering
ways and means of financing the
enterprise.
This silence on the part OF the
White House left Congress high :, IN
the air over the whole business. The
Joint committee suspended all ac-
tivity, not knowing which way, tc
turn. Individual members Of both
Houses pledged to the bonus did lots
of brave talking, but nothing more.
The opposition smiled contentcdly as
it contemplated the predicament IN
which advocates of the Legislation
found themselves.
Meanwhile the volume OF COM
plant from the country continued 10
increase. Alarmed by the publica..
ton a week ago of the program OF
taxation suggested by the Treasury.
thousands of protesting letters and
kilograms have poured into Washing
tom from interests which hitherto had
seemed Indifferent as to the effect
either of fresh taxation or ne"
bond issue.
No official explanation Of the Pres
ident's change of mind regarding
his letter to the committee was
vouched at the White House last
night. As late as 6 o'clock 1t was
stated that his letter remained un-
written and the suggestion was pas
sed out that it would not goi TO the
Capitol before tomorrow. = AT tne
press conference Tuesday Mr.. Hard
inc had indicated definitely that ne
would send a communication to the
joint committee some time Wednes-
day.
An intimation that the President
was awaiting further data from
Secretary of the Treasury Mellon
was taken in some quarters to in
dicate that Mr.. Harding will pro-
pose a substitute scheme for raising
the bonus money, perhaps sales
tax. If he means to recommend a
further delay in the enactment OF
the bonus legislation, he need not
wait for the Treasury to act. 1t IS
argued
Congressional leaders continue tc
discuss informal various proposals
which might conceivably meet with
executive approval. They all realize,
of course, that with the opposition to
the bonus growing, it will be difficult.
over Presidential veto.
In one-ouarter it was declared that
the House and Senate, in order to
square themselves with the bonus pc
titioners, might GO ahead and enact
a bonus bill without providing any
means of raising the money. Ihis
was the original scheme of the Ways
and Means Committee, but, 1t was
abandoned weeks ago, when the
President served notice that ne
would not stand for It.
Then, too. the idea of an issue OF
short term certificates was discuS-
sed as solution for the proolem.
These, it was contended, could oe
sold to the banks as are other Gov
ernment securities of that character.
Such an issue, it was ccntendec'
would not necessarily affect the,
bond market and could be refunded
or redeemed at some future time.
Nobody seemed to know, however.
whether such notes would come with
in the prohibition laid down by the
President yesterday when he rulcd
out all bond proposals.