Perth Amboy evening news., 1923-12-26
fOmenfOMS Decisions.

sf The Democrats in congress are soon to go into conference for
the purpose of adopting a policy for the 1924 campaign. Upon the
DECISIONS made at that conference will rest, to a large extent, the
3pu9e Of the Democratic party in the presidential election. The
democrats have the advantage of knowing what the Republican
doooIicy will be. Thanks to the plain, outspoken words of President
Coolidge in his message to congress, there can be no doubt as to
where the Republican party will stand on the vital issues. The
Democrats are free to make such capital as they may out of the
Republican position.
Judging from reports that are coming. from Washington dur
ing the holiday recess, the Democrats are inclined to take
advantage of the Presidents positive statement against the
soldiers bonus. Some are still claiming that the bonus can be
granted and taxes reduced at the same time. No one, however, has
advanced any plan whereby this can be done, and the more it is
considered the more it is realized how impossible it is. Every cent
spent by the government must come out of the people in one form
or another. The five billion dollars that a cash bonus would
probably mean, deliberately taken out of the national treasury
must come from somewhere, and the surplus in the treasury will
not begin to make up the amount even if no relief were to be given
the taxpayers. To think of paying out five billion dollars without
providing a way to raise'the money is ridiculous, and the only way
10 raise it is to get still more out of the people.
y In the meantime, these same people have been carrying the
Financial burden of the war for the last five years. Not all the
snople were profteers during the war, by any means. The soldiers
vie to call their proposed legislation the adjusted compensation
haal, basing their claim that while they were in the service OF the
vhntry getting $50 a month, Others were at home receiving fab
5eIns wages. The soldiers want the bonus to make up the differ
a1aaSSe between what they received and what. those at home received.
30 But they are mistaken if they think that everybody at home
mis wallowing in wealth. Ignoring the sacrifices made by those
Ihshome in order that the boys at the front might have everything
sussible for their comfort and convenience, there are thousands and
hsYSands Of men who struggled along at their job, carrying on as
EST they could with the cost of everything mounting higher and
tighter. while their wages or salaries did not begin to keep the
|pacLe. These same men, and women too, have seen their taxes go
higher and higher. They have been compelled to pay to the
Government a generous portion of their insufficient income in the
fnhm of an income tax in order to meet the expenses OF the war,
AMID this burden has never been lightened.
smE Today, these thousands of workers, the great middle class IN
AInerica that have been carrying the greater part of the burden
from the beginning, see a chance of relief. As Representative
D$rrow. of Pennsylvania says, "tax reduction means a bonus for
rylery man, woman and child in the United States"
AS our own representative in congress, Mr., Geran, will take
part in the coming conference of the Democratic party when the
mtmentous decision is to be made, the people of this vicinity are
pdrtcularly interested in the attitude he takes. Geran has been
among those who are trying to carry water on both shoulders. lie
has favored both the bonus md the tax reduction. Sooner or later
hd must choose between the two. The whole nation is crying for
AZ frightening of the burden of taxation. The Democratic party
seals its fate the moment it decides against that demand.