Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1923-12-28
Congressman Freeman FauOrs
Tdx-Cut---Opposes Bonus Bill
DID NOT VOTE WITH THE HERD" BUT HAS BEEN A
STEADY AND CONSISTENT FOE OF BONUS
FROM THE START
Heartily In Favor OF the Mellon Plan For Reduction
Gives Interview for The Patriot

Congressman Richard p. Freeman
of the Second Connecticut Congress
sional District, in which Windham
County is included. has announced
himself as being heartily in favor Of
the Mellon tax reduction plan and alb
solutely opposed TO the Soldiers Bonus
Bill which Mr.. Freeman has fought
and voted against at every opportuni-
ty. Through an error The Patriot re-
Gently accused Mr.. Freeman of "vot-
ing with the herd on the Bonus Bill,
that is, voting for the bill with the
full knowledge that il was later to be
vetoed by the President.
Since Mr.. Freeman has made prac-
tically no appearance Of a public ma
ture for many months in this part of
his district, and as his stand on vari-
Gus public questions is not known. The
Patriot, desiring full information on
the Congressman stand on the Bonus
Bill and the Mellon plan. secured the
services of a reputable Washington
correspondent, who interviewed Mr.
Freeman last week.
Bonus Is "Uneeonomieal''
The dispatch from this correspon-
dent is as follows:
Congressman Richard p. Freeman
has been a consistent opponent of the
soldiers bonus. He is a warm advo-
cate of the present Mellon tax redue-
ton plan.
"He states his position as follows:
4 am against the bonus bill because ii
is uneconomical. Its passage viii hurt
everybody. including the veterans
themselves. Later on, say thirty years
or so, the veterans will receive adjust
ed compensation when they most need
IT, This would probably take the form
of pension.
~ thoroughly endorse the Mellon
tax reduction proposition. | believe
its passage by Congress would be Of
infinite benefit TO the country. stabil-
izing industry, helping employment,
and advancing prosperity in general.
MIR. Freeman has voted against the
bonus on every opportunity. and he
plans to do so again this session. He
voted against ii in 1920, The vote in
the House standing 2S9 10 90 for the
bonus. That bill carried the so-called
cash feature. involving estimated ex
penditnres OF $500. 100000 in the first
two years.
Always Against the Bonus
mir. Freeman voted against the
bonus on March %. 1922. the House
vote that day being 1888 to 20 in favor
of the bonus. On September 90 1922,
Mr.. Freeman voted to uphold Presi-
dent Harding's veto of the bonus bill.
The vote that day was 25s to 81 in the
House 10 override the veto. Last
years bill had eliminated the so-ealled
cash feature and would have involved,
its proponents estimated. an expendi-
ture Of S242. GOO, 600 in the first three
years.
Much Needed information
Mr.. Freeman's statement viii be
heartily welcomed by great many Of
his constituents in this territory.
Since the Mellon plan was first advo-
Gated and since President Coolidge's
stated opposition TO the present Bonus
Bill, there has been more than little
local interest expressed by Republican
voters throughout this district as to
Mr.. Freeman's stand on both cues
tons. There are many who hope that
Mr.. Freeman will find il possible be-
fore long 70 come 10 Putnam and ex-
plain to his constituents personally
his stand on many national questions
which are of the highest current m
terest to Windham County citizens.