New-York tribune., 1921-02-06
Senators Pledge
Legion Report
On Bonus Bill
Penrose and McCumber,
However, Assert Measure
Will Not Contain Appro-
priation for Cash Now
Funds Left to Future
Plan to Put Into Effect
Four: of Five Optional
Features for Veterans

WASHINGTON, Feb. s. - Senator
Psnrose, chairman of the Senate FL
nance Committee, and Senator McCum-
Der, ranking Republican member of the
committee, advised committee of the
American Legion to-day that the pros
fects were good for reporting the
bonus bill out of the committee this
session.
The bill as it is likely to be reported,
however, will not contain provision for
an appropriation to meet the cash
bonus. 1t will contain the authoriza-
tion for the cash bonus but not the
appropriation, leaving to the future the
question of the actual appropriation
and raising of the funds needful to
make the contemplated payments, The
plan as discussed would be to put into
effect four Of the five optional features
of the House bill and leave the appro
priation for the cash bonus to the
future
The situation was disclosed in con-
sequence of conferences held by an
American Legion con mittee with two
Senator's Members of the committee
are here to look after hospital and
other legislation affecting the veterans.
They are f. W. Galbraith of CinciE.
natl, national commander; Gilbert w.
Bcttrnan, Cleveland, national Legislative
committee of the Legion; John Thomas
Taylor, of Philadelphia, vice-chairman
of the committee, and S. W. Chad
bourne, of Massachusetts, member OF
the national executive committee.
Senator Pcnrose., after the visit of
the Legion committee to his office, said;
Statement by McCumber
"There is some question of not res
porting the cash bonus feature, leaving
il for the next session. There is no
question that the country Is in bad
financial condition.
"At the same time l conceded the
fact that it was the duty Of the gov
ernment to provide the revenue for this
natriotic purnese, even were it neces-
safy thattan added tax be levied Ii
time. permitted / told them [ would
favor including these taxes at this
short session, but it is Obvious that
this is impossible. Attention was called
TO the fact that Congress was not
going to complete its work, but that
continuoCs. session would practically
be held on account Of the extra session
running into the short session. Hence
at an early date in the session appro
prigtion of such additional revenue, by
taxation If necessary, would be pro
vided
Il 'ssas- -gratified to note what l had
never before doubted that the men
were in a reasonable and patriotic
frame of mind and avowedly did not
want 10 insist on any course which
could be shown to be against the best
interests of the country.
McCumber Hopes for Action
Senator McCumber made this state
nent:
81. hope that We can get some action
on the bonus legislation at this ses
sionl Tine tax feature is the biggest
problem. especially at this time, when
we are about to concern ourselves with
the entire question Of tax revision.
Speaking as an individual member of
the Finance Committee, / am in favor
Of reporting the bill ont and leaving
to the future the time when the cash
bonus shall go into effect so that we
will not be forced to provide the money
for it immediately.
ut is not certain that we can get
action at this session, because we will
have to do a good deal Of figuring and
hold more hearings to determine what
can be done about the bonus question.
| expect to call the committee very
soon to consider the problem. We will
get that much done and then if the
appropriation bills and the emergency
tariff bill prevent action at this ses-
sion we will be able to put it through
early in the special session."
The bonus question came up on the
foor of the Senate also for brief dis
cussion. Senator McCumber said he
hoped the committee on finance would
report it when the emergency tariff
bill WAS out of the way. He said the
tax plan to raise the funds for the
bonas had not been decided by the
committee.
Senator Harrison. of Mississippi,
said he intended TO offer the bonus bill
as an amendment to the tariff bin and
give the Senate an opportunity to vote
ON it.