New Britain herald., 1924-01-05

the desert, Suitefeu ana Sacflnced, denied themselves, and under the most adverse circumstances opened up farms. now with 50 years of struggle behind them, stand in mortal dread Of the coming tax collector with his ever-inereasing call. They have seen their tax burden mount three hundred and five hundred per cent in the brief space of a few years, and while refiecting over what has happened, they are even more anxious about what may happen. Danger of Taxes What do such tax burdens mean? l They mean imperilled and forfeited | homes, they mean dissatisfied and dis contented domestic life, they mean less educational advantages for the coming citizen. they mean separated and demoralized families, they mean energy thwarted and enterprise ster- | ilized, and last Of all, they mean thriftlessness and improyidence and proud citizenship"
 Have we the courage to do our plain duty? Senator Borah asked. "I beg the people to understand that 1 it is not alone a question of reducing the taxes. It is also this: Can We ' throw off this national disease Of ex- travagance and waste?"
 Congress is the center of fire in the tax cut controversy, the speaker said, but not congress alone is di- yided on the issue.
 Tt seems to me that the admin istration Is not presenting a united front" the senator continued. At time when economy is the crying need and when the morale of the forces fighting for economic relief is Of the utmost moment, the demands which are coming in for a greater army and for heavy additional eApendi- lures for military purposes should not be presented ..
 Opposes Armaments
 "As understand. there is nearly sf00, ,0o0, 900 additional for military and armament purposes being asked for. 1 do not think the additional eN- penses are necessary or justinable. The most commanding. the most pow erful and the most inyincible nation at this time is the nation which Is economically sound and strong. and whose citizens are prosperous, hope full and loyal
 "If we build up our economic pow CT, give life and energy to our farm CTS and businessmen, make it possible for the average citizen to get ahead. to save something to educate his children, we will be far more invinci- ble than If we have great armies and nation crippled economically. The administration has done D fine, inspiring thing in putting out a call for tax reduction. for the cur taiiment of expenditures. But noth- ing has discouraged the supporters
 more than this grabbing for public funds by the different departments Of the government. Who can deny q soldier boy and ask him to share with his country the question of the mat ter Of depression or prosperity fl the | proposed savings are 10 be eaten up by wasteful burdens?
 Bonus Is Big Item
 The great obstacle to tax redue- tion, it appears. is the proposal for bonus for ex-service men If we consider the bonus purely in the light of material or financial aid. and if our real purpose is to assist the soldier in that way. I can think of no greater benefit for these men than that which would be derived from bettsfment Of the economic conditions throughout the country.
 "1t is five years since the var
 These young men are back in civil life. They cannot succeed when business. industry and agriculture are embarrassed or discouraged. The
 pittance granted them individually would mean nothing in the sum total
 Of their wellbsing. but anything and everything which contributes to the rehabilitation and revival Of econom- ic and business conditions througiI- out the country will be a permanent prosperity to the soldier far beyond anything which mere individual aid would mean.
 T do moi beiieFs n is possible 10 divorce ths soldiers welfare at this time from tine welfare Of the country: in other words. from the welfare of the farmer and the business man generally"
 But said Senator Borah. lie had , felt from the beginning that fl was
 mistake to regard the economic
 argument as tho most serious 0bjec-
 ton to the bonus. For he believed
 that 1T a Houus could be sustained on
 principle. il if would be a sound poll
 icy in government. the argument that
 1t would neeessitate higher taxes
 would not be sufficient grounds for its
 rejection.
 . tIf that kind Of service ran b4
 paid for" he declared. If there is
 any rule Of compensation by which
 10 fix the value Of such seryice: if #
 is deemed wise and iB fhe intHren
 Of institutions which rest at last upon , the unpurchased and unpurehasab blA
 devotion of the citizen-then let us call these young men 10 the pay vim dor and at the same time apologize
 for these five years delay. Tor Disabled All But there Is q feeling prevalent in this country. feeling shared by
 thousands of ez-servfee men. that this