New-York tribune., 1920-02-13
Congress Asks
Legion to Wait
Year for Bonus
Steering Committees Say
Finances Will Not Stand
Burden Of $l,9OO,OO
600 Asked by Ex-Soldiers
May Defer Training Also
Leaders Agree to Plan in
Principle, but Plead Ex-
cessive Cost Just Now

From The Tribunes Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12.-Lcaders In
Congress were plainly worried to-day
over the prospect of pressure from the
American Legion for definite action at
this session on universal military
training and soldiers bonus legisla-
ton The steering committees of the
Senate and House held a long meeting
late in the ffternoon and considered
what the Republican majority can do
with the committees Of the Legion that
are coming to Washington next week
10 get Showdown" from Congress.
The joint meeting made no decision or
how the situation will be faced when
the Legion spokesman present their
case, but the discussion showed that
Congress leaders are aware that they
must be able to give some positive as
surance of Il satisfactory nature or
they may expect the influence Of the
organization to be thrown against
them in the campaign.
There was talk to-day of turning
the subject of bonus legislation over
TO a special committee which would be
empowered to listen to the arguments
wise the majority Of it's conclusion,
possibly going to the point of framing
tentative bill for consideration by a
Republican conference. Many objec
tions were raised to this plan. There
are seventy-tive proposals which SO far
have appeared in the House fixing
some form of bonus to eX-service men,
and these have gone to many different
committees. Members would be re-
luctant to permit bonus bill to be
framed in another committee and thus
be deprived of any credit as one of
its trainers.
VIII Oppose With Economy Cry
The big argument some of the lead
ers expect to advance against bonus
legislation is that of economy. In
view Of the fact that the plan which
the Legion's executive committee ap-
proved in indianapolis would cost in
the end about $1,000 100000, they ex-
pect to make the point to the Legion
condition OF the Treasury no further
bond issues can be made nor can there
be further issues of Treasury certif-
Gates unless taxes are increased
These influential members hone to
convince the Legion that they are will
ing to indorse the principle of bonus
but that it would be better for the
country il the actual passage of the
necessary legislation were postponed
until another year.
In regard to universal training there
was no definite decision, either. Senti-
ment developed to have the Republi-
cans in Congress indorsc the princi-
pies of military training, but to seek
postponement of action at this ses-
sion of Congress on the ground of
economy also, and TO emphasize that
1T was training" and not 'scrvice'
that they approved.
Leaders were frankly at sea as to ex-
actly what sort of campaign they
may expect from the Legion represe,-
tatlves, and do not know yet how much
strength the organization can develop
among its members to support the de-
mands that are coming. They realize
that they are going to have an unpleas-
ant time for the next few weeks, and
are seeking ways out of the situation
According to the information re-
ceived here, the Legion is going after
each state delegation and putting it abb
solutely on record, without regard to
the politics of the members or their
previous record on military legisla-
ton.
BESIDES the two questions of military
policy, the steering committees took un
the legislative situation generally, and
the Senate committee members agreed
to keep appropriation bills down to
the level set by the House and to help
in their expedition, so that Congress
may be in position to adjourn about
juno |, or at least take a recess dur
ing the national conventions.