The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-17
Smith Asks
 CongressT To Quit Politics
Advsies the Members to Adopt the Views of President Wilson in Re. gard to Soldier Bonus, Which He Opposes

" ID .|- New York, May 17-(U. P) - Alfred E. Smith has called upon congress to quit playing politics, and as if to set an example. pre- sented his own financial program for the national emergency which demands dereat of soldier bonus | ie eKislation and calls for support of President Wilson's program, that was generally accepted bygthe vet
 The democratic presidential can- didate in 1928 called for . man. ufacturers sales tax wine and beer tax to finance unemployment relief construction, and he urged congress 10 suppress all "blocp, ca- bals, insurgencieS and mugwump tactics by whatever name they may be called which bedevil legis- lation, increase the depression, unsettle business and endanger our credit at homo and abroad"
 Tho program was enunclated n m address last night. It reiterated certain other measureg such as re. peal of the eighteenth amendment, and extension of President Hoov. ers' moratorium through granting Hoover power to make such an ex. tension "until q real solution can be reached"
 The democratic leaders criticised President H0overs unemployment relief plan. calling for uso of funds of the Reconstruction Finnnce Cor. porntion. He urged that the prcsi' dent be given "a free hand to pro- ..l. al. n At works of states and municipalities"
 Former Governor Smiths most radical departure from tho politi- clans program came in his state. ment of policy on vetcrans' legisla. ton. He said: 'I....
 "No group of patriots can pro. perly ask that their caro shall bc. come national burden greater than tho people of the country can carry in time of trouble.
 "i.et us TO back to the principles of tho wise and far.sighted plans set forth by President Wilson In his program from payments to soldiers. flo sought above all things to avoid the evils of soldiers pensions which followed tho civil war.
 "He began by obtaining q scale of pay for the mon in tho service higher than any scale over paid be. fore in this or any other country. He established as a further part Of this program the principles of full and complete care of those wound. ed or disabled during tho war, or whoao disa bilitieB are tracenble to tho war; full care and protection for widows and oprhans of soldiers who lost their lives in the war. and n system of insurance and deferred compensaion for nil veterans on q sound actuarial basis with contri. buttons by the government and vct- ernns.
 "His program was entirely ac- ceptabio to tho veterans and to the people generally.
 "rho Wilson principles have practically been destroyed by nun. orous amendments by veterans laws. all of which have as their purpose the payment of hundreds of millions of dollars to hundreds Of thouBands of veterans and their dependents whose disabilities and othor problems aro not remotely connected with the war.
 "f therefore suggest that con- gross appoint q special committee to report back at the next session I list of all special acts, amend. ments and appropriations which in my way c0mpromiBe the original Wilson principles with the view 10 repeal of such legislation. In tho meantime, no more burdens for veterans relief should be added by congrcBB at this se@slon. ntu-s
 Smith called defeat of tho sales tax a "mistake" and said congreSs should "rcconBlder." Ho outlined what he said would Do tho effect of n salcs tax, and cited tho high taxes that would Do levied on capital if such l tax were not adopted. 'sonk capital, and you soak labor," he argued.
 Smith reviewed his own construc. ton bond plan for federal relief of unemployment calling for fed. eral improvements, highway aid to states, loans t0 housing corpora. tionB and federal purchase of 10. cal bonds for public works with the president empowered to cut red tape in the building program.
 He criticised tho distinctiOn be. tween self liquidating and other pubic work .aB made by tho pres. ident, because it eliminated high way construction from tho uncm. ployment relief program. Tho dis. tinction in this case was ''absurd," !" he said. And "log rolling he said would result from tho revenue pro ducing project when selection Of the projects to Do helped was made.
 "Rather than limit unemploy. mcnt relief in the way suggested by tho president, l would strongly re. commend that the president Do giv. en n free hand to provide federal aid for productive public works of at1tog and municipalities as well as for additional federal projects which would bring about tho carly cin ployment of the greatest number of men," VI
 "Thc proceeds from the sales nnd beer taxes would not only pro. vide for the existing deficiencies but will undoubtedly produce re- venue sufficient to pny tho interest and amortize any public works bonds which may be Issued by the president during the next fiscal year."