The sun., 1919-05-23
HOUSE PASSES
DEFICIENCY BILL
Republicans Rush Measure
Providing War Risk Funds
and Pensions.
BLAME LAID ON WILSON
Delay in Calling Congress and
His Absence Hold Up
1,325,OOO Checks.
BLAME LAID ON WILSON
Special Despatch to TIE SuS.

WASHINGTON, May 20. The House
to-day passed the urgent deficiency ap-
preparation bill, carrying about ss9,-
1000 for the Bureau of War Risk
Insurance. ss.ooO.0oo to pay June
pensions of civil war soldiers and
nearly s3,ooo,0oo for administration Of
the War Insurance Bureau. The Bill
was passed without a roll call and is
the first OF the supply measures which
failed to go through the last Congress
to he put through under the Republi-
can rule.
In the brief debate that preceded
passage Republican leaders took pains
to point out that the failure of the
Democrats to pass this legislation
means that hundreds of thousands of
families of soldiers will get no allow
ance checks due in May, and possibly
In June and July.
President Wilson was blamed for not
having called Congress together earlier
to care for this situation. and his alb
sence in Paris was referred to as the
possible cause OF still further delay in
taking care of the families OF the ma
tion's fighting men.
Representative Good (Iowa), chair
man of the Appropriation Committee.
said that on May 1 there were 700,0 900
allowance checks that could not be sent
out because of lack of funds amounting
to $l3.107,000; that on Juno there will
be about 100000 more such checks.
amounting to about t11,50S. 900. and
that those due on July ! would swell
the total by &s.s1s,o0o. Tho Pension
Bureau on June I. ne said. would be
unable to mail its customary $4,000
vouchers carrying 1000. 900 to civil war
pensioners unless the bill has become
law.
This appropriation would have to be
passed in the form OF a bill. I take Il"
suggested Representative Mann.
Certainly said Mr.. Good.
And" continued Mr.. Mann, 'in order
TO become a law 1t must receive the
signature Of the President of the United
States. or at least be presented to the
President"
Yes" agreed Mr.. Good.
The President cannot sign the bill
unless 1t is either sent to him in Paris
or he comes here to sign it," suggested
whether II is safe, II the bill is passed
within a week or ten days. to send 1t to
the President, or whether II will be held
Until the President returns? Can any
one predict now how soon the President
can return? l will say to the gentleman
have no objection to the consideration
OF the bill but 1 see no possible way
that this appropriation can be effective
before the middle of June"
THE committee has not considered
that question at ALL" said Mr. Good.
The committee has just considered the
practical question OF the obligations rest
ing upon this body and upon Congress.
II some other department should fail to
perform its duty that is not the blame
of Congress
Mr.. Good called the attention of the
House early in the day to the need for
speedy action and the House recessed
until o'clock so that the committee
might report II. When the House met
at that time Representative Mondell. the
Republican floor leader. moved to ad-
journ until tomorrow to follow the
usual practice, he said. of giving a day
between the report of a bill and it's pas
sage.
Democrats objected vigorously, and on
a rising vote the motion was defeated,
several Republicans declining to Join
| their floor leader. Former Speaker
Clark, the new Democratic leader, Sc
cured unanimous consent for the bills
Immediate ponaidera finn