Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1924-01-31
BONUS BILL DEAD
FOR THE PRESENT
WASHINGTON OPINION is THAT
DEMAND FOR TAX REDUCTION
KILLS 1T THIS SESSION.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK

resurrection for this session at least.
Scores of senators and representa-
tives who have believed that the fair
" quick passage of a bonus measure
was necessary because of the seeming
public demand, now appear to have
changed their minds. The American
people almost en- masse have petit
toned congress, individually and col
lectively, for tax reduction, and as
congress is not at all certain that tax
reduction can be accomplished II DO
nus legislation is to become a fact, 1t
looks as if the hopes of the ex-serylce
men for favorable action on either
measure at this session are not to
bear ripened fruit.
1t Is not altogether certain. ap-
parently, that even tax reduction can
be accomplished. Certain it is that
the road ahead of it Is like those
rough roads in Flanders which led to
the front line trenches where the fight
Ing was the hardest. In congress
there are many minds about the form
which tax reduction should take. A
bill is certain to go through the lower
house, or virtually certain so to Go,
but it is likely to be. SO changed from
Its original form by amendments that
1t will bear little resemblance to the
Mellon plan and therefore 1t may meat
with the disapproval of the President,
even If it shall survive in the senate.
COMPROMISE Is Necessary.
1t is bromide that there is nothing
certain but death and taxes. The say
ing can be varied little to say that
there is nothing certain about taxation
In its present aspect. 1t must be un-
derstood that in the majority party In
the house Of representatives there are
40 or 90 members who do not APP
prove of the Mellon plan as it
has been presented In order to Sc
cure the votes of this faction the Re-
publican leaders will find it necessary
to compromise with their initial en-
deavors and to insert in the bill some
things of which they do not approve
and which it is known the administra-
ton does not approve.
There is only one hope which the
friends Of the Mellon plan in congress
have that they can accomplish what
they wish. This hope is based on
the possibility that in the Democratic
ranks there may be found sufficient
number of members who think the
Mellon plan the only sound one and
who will be willing to support the en-
deavor to enact it into law.
Naturally enough, the Republicans
do not care to have the Democratic
support unless it is absolutely neces-
sary to offset defections in their own
ranks. The Republicans want tax re-
1uction legislation to be presented to
the country as a purely Republican
achievement. They cannot so present
1t unless they change the present form
Of the bill to suit those Republicans
who do not agree with the majority OF
their party that the Mellon plan is all
that it should be.
The house will pass the tax reduc-
ton bill under a rule limiting debate.
1t definitely will be known just when
the bill is to come to vote, but 1t
cannot definitely be known until the
last day of the bills consideration in
the house just how many amendments
must be accepted to bring into line
the opponents of the measure as 1t
stands.
Likely to BE Long in the Senate.
Over in the senate it will be impos-
sible to fix the date for the passage or.
rejection of the bill. Every major
revenue measure which ever has been
presented to the senate has taken
weeks and sometimes months, many
months, Of consideration and debate
before reaching the hour Of the voting.
The opposition to certain features
OF the Mellon plan on the part of some
of the Republicans Of the senate is
more bitter in its nature than the an
tagonism which has been shown thus
far in the house of representatives.
The senators in antagonism know the
advantage which comes to them
through ability to prolong debate, to
tire out the legislators and thus to
force compromises to their liking. It
looks today as If, when the tax meas
ure finally reaches the day when it
can be presented to the President for
signature or the veto, it will have lost
much of its original appearance and
will be Of such patchwork quality that
It will receive the frown rather than
the smile of Calvin Coolidge.
If a tax bill which promises some
kind of real reduction in taxes finally
shall be passed and approved by the
President, it is pretty well known that
instantly the majority in house and
senate will start to study the financial
situation of the government in an at
tempt to find out whether 1t will be
nossible. under the diminished reve-
nue.. to pass bonus bill. 1t is certain
that the political leaders do not think
that it will be good policy to kill all
hope that a bonus measure may be q
legislative fact Of the next session
There are scores of senator's and
representatives who have made per-
sonal pledges to vote for bonus bill.
They will not have to break their
pledges, Of course unless the bill is
presented to them for vote.
Watching Butler in Philadelphia.
Service men il Washington are
l II