The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-11-18
STRONG STAND
 TAKEN BY BODY FOR DISABLED
Treasury Secretary's Pro- gram Meets With Approval. Believed Will Eliminate Po- llticaI Use Of Funds NATI0N- WIDE CAMPAIGN AGAINST MERCENARIES League Wants Active Work CTS In Every State Before Congress Is Month Old, Ac- Cording To Director

Plans for the organization of a branch of the EX-Service Mems Anti Bonus league were initiated in Bir- mingham Saturday, following the ac- tion of the directors of the Chamber of Commerce in indorsing Secretary Melons proposal for a reduction in taxes and opposition to the bonus.
 The Anti-Bonus league, recently or ganized in New York. has begun a nation wide drive to consolidate the influence of former army men who do not believe that the bonus plan is wise.
 The attitude of the Chamber of Commerce, as expressed by President R. l. Ingalls in a telegram to a New York newspaper requesting the views of the organization, toward Secretary Melons stand, is as follows
 Ire Chamber of Commerce of Birmingham subscribes to the Mellon plan for reducing in- come taxes. There cannot be of fered any reasonable excuse for want ing an increase in the tax rates which create large surpluses over the amount required to economically run the government. A continued cur tailment of expenditures in the vari- ous departments, together with con- sistent reduction in taxes, would give declded impetus to constructive
 
 eliminate the possibility of using vast sums for political disburse- ment. We are opposed to the so- called bonus for able-bodied soldiers, but are in favor of making due and liberal provision for disabled and in- firm soldiers"
 Hassinger's Comment.
 W. H. Hassinger, Birmingham capitalist, when asked for an in- dividual expression, said:
 5ecretary Melons ideas are all riI ht. Adoption Of the program ap- proved by him will undoubtedly bring more money into the federal treasury. The revenue act, as it now stands. is a strong influence toward placing of capital in tax x-exempt securities. The new program will tend to prevent people from so handling their funds, proving of great benefit to indus tries.
 T know any number of investors who are not taking chances on a stock bearing six or seven per cent interest with the certainty of pay ing three or four per cent of the re- turn to the government in income taxes. Removal of the surtaXes un- der the Mellon plan will turn loose these funds for the needed industrial expansion as relates to investment capital.
 More people will pay taxes and more of them, but the spread will be more even among those of large in- comes. Adoption of Mellons pro- gram will mean that capital can be risked in new business with fair returns possible in case of success" Purpose Of League.
 The purpose of the Ex-Service Mems Anti Bonus league, as set forth by Edward L. Allen, executive director of the league in New York. is as follows:
 the entire country in our drive for members. We want to give every able bodied veteran of the country chance to stand up and be counted with those who resent being placed before the country as mercenaries seeking a money reward for render ing service to their country that cannot be measured in terms of dol- lars and cents. We intend to have a functioning organization in every state of the union before Congress is a month old.
 claims made by the American Legion stating that they represent the vet eran sentiment of this country Tn demanding a bonus are absolutely false. Recruiting will be vigorously carried on in every state up to the
 
 settled in Congress and from our survey of the situation We are con yinced our drive will bring at least one million able bodied veterans to the standard. For the disabled, eV- erything-For the able bodied, noth- ing.
 "With a possible annual tax reduc- ;;on in sight of $323,0O0, 900 which will be shared by all our fellow citi- zens, according to the Secretary of the Treasury, providing no bonus hill for the able-bodied is passed by Congress, I can conceive of no great CT service we able-bodied veterans could render our country at this time,' said Allen, than to stand up as one man and let the world know that we who served our country as willing soldiers during the war are just as willing to serve it's best in- terests now, or at any time, as loyal citizens, regardless from what quar- ter the call may come or where 1t may lead"