New-York tribune., 1917-09-05
Bond Bill Expected to Pass
Without Amendment
Wilson Opposes
Moore Still Attacks
Declares He Will Introduce
Separate Measure-Vote
Comes To-day

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4.-Passage
of the sl1 ,53s,9l5,i6O war bond ana
certificate bill by the House IN v'rtu-
ally the form it was reported from
committee seemed assured tonight
after four hours Of general debate on
the measure. All parties are united IN
supporting the general features OF the
bill. and a fight by Representa'''e
Moore. Of Pennsylvania, for ms pro-
posed amendment to create war eA
pcndtures committee probably VIII ho'
delay the vote beyond late tomorrow.
President Wilson let it be known at
the White House to-day that he stili
opposed any Congressional war COM
mittcc. and Administration leaders I'M
mediatcly laid plans to strike out the
Moore proposal on a point of order
Mr.. Moore then introduced it as sep
aratc bill, so, If it is defeated as an
amendment, he will still have another
nance to bring it up.
Fight Over War Board
Mr. Moore devoted much Of a long
speech on the bond measure to his
amendment. declaring that Congress
was in the dark on much of the Admin
i,tration's financial transactions. By
questioning, he also drew from Repre-
sentative Fordrey, Of Michigan. rank
ing Republican member OF the Ways
md Means Committee, statement 'hat
he favored a war expenditures com
mittce.
Roth Democratic Leader kitchin and
Represertative Fordney presented the
bond bill to the House, urging that u
thc United states is to remain IN the
war Congress must vote the bonds, as
the necessary money cannot be raised
by taxation.
The question Of making new So
OO0 O0O 900 loan to the Allies IS the
only real one before the House, Mr..
Kitchin insisted Their cause and ;he
cause Of the United States are one, he
added. and the United States is obliged
to make the loan.
MIR. Kitchin was before the House
for more than an hour, replying much
Of the time to q running fire OF good
natured questions. No serious oppo-
sition to the bill appeared, but he was
asked 20 explain its many intricate
points. One of his statements. IN re-
plv to query. was that about so or
90 por cent of the money already
loaned TO the Allies had been expended
in this country. and that he thought
- =, .l,.n nrnnnCnd
also would be spent here.
Opposed Taxes on Bonds
After indorsing the bill generally and
declaring that he intended 70 suppor,
il if il could not be amended. Mr..
Fordrey went on record as opposing
both the proposed taxing Of bonds and
tho failure 10 put limit on :helr con-
vertibilitv. Four per cent, Mr.. Fordpey
said. is as high a rate Of interest as
the government should be compelled
10 pay, and more probably will have to
be paid on the bonds now being au-
thorizcd if they are made convertible
Sneaker Clark interrupted Mr.. Ford
new 10 say that he favored paying
more of the war debt by taxation than
the bill contemplates.
II understand you 10 say, the SPEAK
or said, chat we should carry on this
war principally by the issue Of bonds
instead of levying taxes. That ends
this way: the men who survive the
fighting will come back and help pay
this very war debt
THAT is true" replied Mr.. Fordney.
The Speaker then added that he
thought the debt might be divided
"fftv- fifty" between bonds and taxes.
Under such an agreement. he declared,
he had no fear of depreciation Of the