The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-10
BONUS SUPPORTERS REPLY

bonus comes from those who are best able to pay it has not been successfully refuted. That their arguments are spacious and that their affected con- cern for the small taxpayer is not gen. uine seem more clearly apparent as time goes on. That the Mellon tax reduction program contemplates re- lief for the large taxpayer rather than the small one is easily deducible from a study of its schedules. The fallacy in MT. Melons own argument against the bonus lies in the fact that his own figures show that, in spite of the tax reductions, the increased revenues estimated as likely to come from certain tax reforms will amount to an annual sum greater than that called for by bonus payments.
 The insincerity of bonus opponents who say that they are willing for the disabled veterans to have everything, but the able-bodied nothing, is proved by the fact that the disabled have not yet had everything, even everything that they need, and that those who ad- vocate everything for the disabled are doing nothing towards realization of such program. If it were left to the ex-service men whether the dis abled or the able-bodied should re- ceive compensation, there would be no hesitation on their part in assign ing all their claims to the disabled. But that is not the question. Our ob- ligation to care for the disabled is solemn and unquestionable. Our moral obligation to extend adjusted compensation to all ex-service men would be equally unquestionable, were there not certain selfish consid- erations that color the views of many who oppose it.
 Congressman Lamar Jeffers of Ala bama, in reply to those who oppose the bonus, but. say that the disabled should lack nothing, says: "The lack of a committee devoted to handling legislation affecting veterans was never more fatal to progress in such matters than at this time. If the idea of priority for the disabled had been carried out conscientiously, the for nation of this new committee would have been one of the very first acts of this congress following the action taken in caucus, when it was agreed that such a committee should be formed. This amounts to a needless and indefensible delay regarding the vital matter of legislation affecting the disabled, on which priority has been promised, as well as correspond ing delay on all matters concerning or affecting the veterans" In other words, all this talk about concern for disabled war veterans is talk and noth- ing more, as far as alert congressional attention to the subject is concerned. To sidetrack bonus argument by ex- pression of concern for the disabled is evasion and not evidence of gen. uine Econcern.
 As to the practical side of bonus payment, the renowned and capable Senator Royal s. Copeland of, New York declares: Secretary Mellon at tempted to sandbag the bonus, using 8 formidable weapon, the pocketbook of the nation," and "the soldiers bonus and tax reduction are not so closely related that one must die if the other lives" ~The real purpose of the Mellon plan, of course," said MT. Copeland, "is to reduce the sur taxes on the rich, and the taxes are cut in half, from fifty to twenty-five per cent. The rest of us, as usual un- der a Republican administration, get only the crumbs. Great business men with whom I have discussed the matter in New York, reluctantly admitting that the bonus must be paid, have begged me to get it out of the way in one lump With this in mind I shall present in due time bonus bill, providing for immediate cash pay ments such as have outlined"
 Whence it appears that the bonus has some very strong friends; that it can be paid without hardship or inter. ference with tax reduction; that busi- ness men want it settled promptly and at once, and that measures cov- ering the situation will be introduced and vigorously supported.
 rRAuMEREI AS OPEN SESAME