Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-12
TAX REDUCTION AND
RO|VUS CONTROVERSY
NAVE CAPITAL UPSET
BY DAVID LAWRENCE
Geased Wire Service to The Journal.)

(CopSright, 1924.l
WASHINGTON, Jan. 10.-Capitol
Hill just now is the scene of an
unprecedented situation in recent
legislative history. The pledges to
pass a soldier bonus are more than
sufficient numerically to carry the
measure through but the wave Of
public opinion which has swept the
house and senate is so strong for
tax revision that the embarrass-
nlents to individual members are &C.
cumulating daily.
If vote were taken today on how
congress really feels about the sol.
der bonus. it would not become law.
Not enough votes would be polled to
override the presidential veto, which
is inevitable. The lines Of the bonus
advocates have been weakening
steadily for several days. Express
siops from all parts OF the country
%shdye been SO emphatic that many
members who are not yet willing
publicly to say they have changed
are beginning to fall in line with
the tactics to Representative Long
worth, majority leader of the house,
who wants to give the tax bill right
of way and consider the bonus bill
afterwards. He knows perfectly well
that once a tax bill is passed the
chances of reopening the revenue
measure to provide funds for the
payment of a bonus will be slim in
deed.
If any one could devise a way to
relieve members oe congress of
pledges given at a time when tax
reduction was not thought of as a
rival issue, he would change the sit
uation overnight.
Trying to Stall Bonus
Mr.. LongWorth is endeavoring to
stall the bonus along so that mem
hers will have the excuse that the
government cannot afford it, and
that the passage of a bill without
means Of providing payment is not
advisable.
The bonus men have not diminish
ed their campaign in any sense, but
they realize the strength of the
opposition which has been created
and they will hold individual mem
bers to their pledges fighting them
in their respective constituencies if
they do not fulfill the pledges given.
One Of the more unfortunate
phases the situation is the eX-
istence of a well-meant but poorly
conducted attempt to influence con-
gress in favor of tax revision and
against the bonus. Form letters by
the thousands are pouring into
Washington, prepared by banks and
business fouses, with the idea OF
making congress abandon the bonus
and take up tax revision. Senator'S
and members of the house are
rarely impressed by form letters.
They are much more interested in
letters personally written and sim
cerely composed without influence
from any business institutions. AS
q matter of fact there is a good
deal of individual letter writing
going on and it is ling a remark
able effect The present drift away
from the bonus and toward tax re-
vision can be attributed in large
part to the letters being written BIZ
people in all parts of the country to
their representatives in congress.
Brief Letters Garry Weight
1t isn't the lengthy letter that i'm
presses the men on capitol hill.
Brief expressions Of opinion on
NuSlItr7 ldX ISVlSlOu VI ID JULIUS
should be given the right of way
tell as ~ch as a long argument.
What congress wants to know really
is whether the advocates of a bonus
are numerically greater than the
advocates Of tax reduction.
The struggle in the house Is =.
no means over-in fact, it has not
reached a climax. The bonus men
will try to get consideration for
their measure ahead of the tax bill
ard will do their best to stall the
tax bill and even may attempt to
incorporate the bonus proposals as
part of the tax measure SO as to
make difficult a veto of the whole
thing by tie chief executive.
Much depends upon the ultimate
attitude of the Democrats, who,
however, are divided at present into
ell sorts of groups and factions. For
the moment the group in favor Of
tax reduction is steadily gaining in
strength. With the further help OF
= &ablic opinion the next two weeks
eil1~ see some conclusive tests of
whether the bonus can really be
sidetracked in favor of a tax reduc
ton bill.