The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1932-03-12
CONGRESS- AT
Bay ON BOOZE,
BONUS, TAXES
Politicians Fear Wrath of
Voters If They Guess
Wrong on Issues.
BY RAYMOND CLAPPER
United Press staff Correspondent
copyright. 1892. BY United Press,


(copvright 1892 BY United Press,
WASHINGTON, March 12.-Be-
wildered in the face of three grave
decisions which aim straight at the
stomachs and pocketbooks of prac-
tically every one, congress is listen
Ing almost frantically just now for
the voice of the people.
AS luck would have it, these criti-
cal votes come just about the time
the voters are beginning to think
seriously whether they want to
make change in their congressman.
The house will take test vote
Monday involving the question of
submitting federal prohibition to the
country for rejudgment.
A few days later the house will
vote on the biggest peace-time tax
increase in history, including the
revolutionary sales tax, which would
place all except the smallest manu-
facturers under federal license and
levy IA per cent on most manu-
featured articles.
Bonus Again to Fore
Following that, the soldier bonus
issue will come up again in a pro-
posal to pay off in full the veterans
adjusted compensation certificates
at cost of S2,OO0,00000O.
All these questions drill down to
the most sensitive nerves of the
voters. The congressman who
guesses wrong may find himself in
the army Of unemployed next No
Yember
1t is one of those great political
emergencies when, as they say
around here, statesmen must rise
above principle. Now il the time
for those who think they know
what this country needs to speak
up.
Professional politicians have many
ways of running public affairs to
suit themselves, regardless of popu-
lar wishes, but in this situation, if
congress can find out what the
country wants, it will be only too
glad to provide it.
Tribute Paid Crisp
There is nothing cynical about
this picture. 1t is accepted so COM
monty as to cause little comment
here, where congress is regarded as
body of men which enacts laws
and hopes to be reelected.
When the tax bill came before
the house this week, the Republican
and Democratic members rose and
applauded in an unusual tribute to
hard working, conscientious, plain
looking man of medium build
Representative Crisp Dem., Ga.)
The reason for this exceptional
honor was the exceptional willing
ness of Crisp to champion a drastic
tax bill, some parts of which he
recognized would be unpopular.
He was obliged, through the ill
ness of a colleague, to assume the
role in somewhat the same spirit
that dentist undertakes to chisel
out wisdom tooth in a way that
will make his writhing patient
come back again. The house in
stantly recognized such exceptional
courage and paid its tribute of re-
spect
Listen for Voters Reaction
Every member of the house rec
ognizeS the country is falling far
behind in operating funds The
money-more than $1,000, 100000
has to come out of somebody's
pocket. The fight is over whose
pocket.
The sales tax would go on every
manufactured article except certain
foodstuffs and few other exempted
articles. 1t would compel every
manufacturer doing more than
$4,000 worth of business a year
to take out federal license.
Opponents say it would dispropor-
tipnately tax the little fellow
down to the baby's shoes. Many
who seek defects in the plan are
unable to find a satisfactory al
tentative. Outcome of the fight
probably will depend on reaction
from the country in the next few
days.
On the prohibition vote, many
members are trying to fathom the
feeling of their constituents, par
ticularly in hitherto dry districts
which are showing strong repeal ma
jorities in the Literary Digest poll.
The grip of the organized dry
forces has been so strong that only
now some members are beginning to
wonder whether shift has set in
which they would do well to anti
cipate.
Veterans Demand Bonus
In spite of economoic issues, pro-
hibition has pushed its way down
lRfront in the 1882 political picture,
and Mondays roll call will provide
Fthe text for many a political stump
4 speech before November.
In the background, but advanc-
ling grimly, is the full soldier bonus
payment bill by Representative Pat
hman Dem., Tex. The house ways
and means committee will hold
hearings on it as soon as the tax
bill is passed.
The American Legion has refused
to indorse it, but countless indi-
vidual legion posts have. as have
the Veterans of Foreign Wars and
several other service groups. Pro-
ponents estimated at 100000
voters are affected through veterans
and their relatives.
| MORTGAGE EXEMPTION
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