The Washington times., 1923-12-17
BONUS WILL GET
FLYING START
IN HOUSE
Advocates Plan to Press Bill
Ahead of Tax Cut-Claim
Votes to Pass.
CONTINUED from First Page.)

Continued from First Page)
Committee there are at least eight
who by record or by pledge are
committed to bonus legislation. 1t
is feared that these eight may be
able to report a rule for rapid
consideration of the new bonus bill
and that the new scheme of revised
rules" forced upon the House by
the progressive group" may
oblige the chairman of the Rules
Committee to subordinate his own
preferences to the committees de.
cisions.
1t is accordingly now feared both
that the Ways and Means Commit
tee will report bonus bill and that
the Rules Committee will bring in
a rule for expediting it and that
the bill will thereupon pass the
House and go to the Senate. In
the Senate it will have to be re-
ported by the Finance Committee.
Majority for Bill.
The chairman Of the Finance
Committee, Reed S1noot of Utah, is
against a bonus. 1t develops, how
ever, that among the seventeen
members of the committee, there
are only four who can be certainly
counted upon to agree with him.
1t seems probable accordingly that
the new bonus bill will go through
the Finance Committee and get to
the floor of the Senate, where there
undoubtedly is a majority for it.
This prospect is strengthened by
the fact that Senator Curtis Of Kan
sas, the Republican whip of the
Senate, has not only already intro
duced bonus bill into the Senate
but is personally enthusiastic for it
He is an energetic and accom-
plished whip and there is no doubt
that he will give a great deal of his
time and skill to whipping a bonus
bill into the statute books.
Meanwhile the bonus advocates
have decided to confine their sup.
port to a bonus bill which will not
eat into Secretary Of the Treasury
Melons proposed tax reduction by
more than 25 per cent.
Tax Cut Assured.
This point was made clear today
by Congressman A. Piatt Andrew of
Massachusetts. distinguished war
veteran, who said to this writer:
II shall support no bonus dill
the cost Of which, during the tern,
Of its operation, will be more than
one-quarter OF the tax reduction
which Mellon has proposed. Nor will
any other veteran in Congress. The
bonus bill on which we are united
viii leave at least three-Quarters of
Melons proposed tax reduction
feasible and easily to be accom-.
plished."
Moreover, the bonus advocates
have suddenly fixed themselves
upon the discovery of the fact that
Mellon, in the course of recommend
ing certain tax reductions, also has
recommended certain tax increases
These increases have to do with
certain changes in the calculations
which income tax payers are now
allowed to make in the matter OF
Capital and in the matter OF
community property"
These increases in taxes, as pre-
posed by Mellon, would produce
$6S, 100000 a year. The bonus bill
now supported by the veterans ir
the House and by the American
Legion would cost, during the
forty-four years Of it's proposed
operation, an average Of some
$68 100000 a year. Melons pro
posed increases Of taxes would
therefore, on the average, according
to the arguments OF the bonus ad
vocates, pay for the bonus with
only some $4,000. 900 per annum Of
additional cost out Of the public
Treasury.
The money for this additional
cost will be found, according 20 thu
bonus advocates. by certain relative
ly slight reductions in Melons ta1
reduction proposals.
The anti-bonus elements in Con
gress dispute these calculations anC
maintain that the cost of the new
bonus bill has been underestimate
1t is thought that possibly this dis
pute regarding financial facts may
have to be settled by some impaltia
committee Of experts.
In any case the initiative will be
taken this week by the pro-bonus
elements and a determined effort
will be made to give the bonus bill
a priority over the tax reduction
bill and to find and fix the cost Of
any bonus before finding and fixing
the amount Of tax reduction.
Copyright, 1928. Washington Press
Service.)