Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-02-21
BONUS SNAC SEEN
FOR TAX MEASURE
ON SENATE FLOOR
ny DAVID LAWRENCE
fr.eased Wire Service to The Journal.D
Ns lCnn,.r,o hi. 192l.l


WASHINGTON. Feb. 2o.-Repub-
lican leaders have about come to
the conclusion that while the constl-
tuition SAYS revenue legislation shall
originate in the house of representa-
tives. the revising taxes will have to
be finally written in the senate.
When the house gets through with
the tax bill it will not be the klnd
of a measure which either the adj
ministration wants or the Democrats
would themselves write if they were
in power.
Under the circumstances, the SEN
ate, according to the present OUT
look, will be chiefly engaged in iron
ing out the wrinkles put in the tax
bill by the conflicting factions in the
house.
The administration is not party
IN the efforts of house leaders to
get compromise on the surtax rates
at 35 per cent or 81 per cent. the
president and secretary Of the treas
urv still hope for favorable action
at Is per cent or near that tlSure,
and will not yield until after it is
apparent that they must. And tney
have faith that the senate will not
approve an unscientific tax bill put
that, responsive to public opinion
changes. will be made in the mouse
hill which will make the measure
workable.
Bonus Issue Factor
The place where the tax bill really
will he written will be in the finance
committee of the senate, and Wniie
+bere will be battle on the senate
floor I'm amendments the chances OIL
a break in the ranks of the Delno-
CRAFTS are greater than In the mouse
where Representative Garner an
Representative Garrett have peen
able 10 hold their forces Vlrtually
intact. 4bo +ox
measure in the. senate Will mol NC
made by those who want hlgh rates
retained. but those who viii insist
on making provision IN the Dill 1oA
a payment of the soldier bonus.
Renewed interest has been gwen
bonus legislation by the extraoral-
nary debate between Colonel Ihonlas
w. Miller. alien property custodlah'
and the secretary of the treasury.
i Colonel Miller is prominent IN the
affair of the American Legion ana
shares the view of the legion iedo-
1ers that Mr.. Melons estimates ABOUT
the cost of the bonus are misleading
Mr.. Mellon, on the other hand, thinks
the legion's estimates are misleading.
Estimates Vary Widely
The difference between the two
viewpoints is really difficult to set
tie b,Mause both are estimating the
cost on what they think the ex-serV'
ice men will select out of the varl-
Gus forms of aid proposed in the
soldiers bonus bill. The beneflclar-
les may take cash or land or voca-
tional training. Mr.. Mellon thinks ~
per cent will take cash or Will bor-
row money on the proposed lnsuf-
ance certificates. The legion officials
think otherwise. Nobody has the
exact information as there is no way
Of telling what the choice OF the eX-
service men will be till they are con-
fronted with the opportunity itself.
Another thing, the legion estimates
are based upon a low cost in the
next few years, but a higher cost
later on. Mr.. Mellon bases his fig
ures on a higher cost in the first
few years. Each plan means a diff
ference in the total amount of inter
est that would have to be paid in
the immediate future.
So the controversy on estimated
cost probably never will be settled,
but it will have a. bearing on the
fate of the tax bill, 4or in the senate
the bonus advocates will play the
bonus against the tax bill and en-
deavor to keep the rates high until
they can command support for their
measure. The real fighting on both
the, tax bill and the bonus will come
in the senate.