The Monmouth inquirer., 1921-07-14
HARDING URGES
BONUS DELAY
President in Person Locks Horns
With Senators, Backing Up
Secretary Melons View.
TAX AND TARIFF BILLS FIRST
lunches With Old Associates and
Lays Down Law Bluntly on Rev.
enue RovIslon-is for a
Senate Recess.

Washington. President Harding
went to the Capitol and told the SEN
ate leaders that the soldiers bonus
bill should be sidetracked to make way
for tax legislation.
Revision of the tax laws, the Presi-
dent declared, should come before con-
sideration of the tariff bill in the SEN
ate
The. Presidents unexpected visit to
the senate came as a complete sur
prise to Capitol Hill. Unannounced
and without having made any pre-
viOus engagement, President Harding
suddenly appeared in the Presidents
room, just off the main senate cham
ber. He was accompanied only by
his secretary. George B. Christian, Jr.
Immediately the Republican sena-
tors disappeared from the chamber to
greet the chief executive.
The President arrived at the
Capitol shortly after one o'clock, and
within a few minutes was having
luncheon with senate leaders on the
north balcony Of the senate. He is
understood to have expressed the hope
that the senate would follow this leg
islative program:
/. Recommitment of the Soldier
Bonus bill and a recess on the part
Of the senate until August /.
q The senate to give precedence
to taxation legislation after the re-
cess.
The Presidents views, as outlined
indicated that tariff legislation will
be deferred until after a tax program
has been put through.
President Harding indicated to SEN
ators with whom he conferred that,
while favorably committed to bonus
postponed at this time.
The President, it Is understood, is
formally to outline his views to Con-
gress on the whole matter. His pro-
n0uncement will come In the form of
a letter, it is said.
President Harding emphasized that
Congress could expedite legislation
for which the special session was
called, namely, taxation and tariff, By
a recess at this time. The house now
Is hard at work on the tariff bill
with expectation OF its passage by
July 81. What the President wants
Is for the senate to recess, deferring
bonus legislation, refer the tariff bill
to the Finance Committee when 1t Is
passed by the House and go ahead
with the tax program. BY this means,
1t Is believed, Congress might be able
to adjourn by November l, with the
tax and tariff legislation completed.
The Presidents insistence upon the
above program is interpreted as indi-
eating that he approves tacltly the
views of Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon that bonus legislation "at this
time" would place too heavy load
upon the treasury. 1t is probable
that the executive may come out def
nitely in support of this policy in his
forthcoming communication to Con-
gress. At that time he Is expected to
point out that while his administra-
tion is publicly committed to bonus
legislation, he believes it should be
deferred until the country could bet
ter stand the financial strain.
Senators with whom President
Harding conferred personally at the
Capitol were: Frelinghuysen, Har-
reid, Spencer, Kellogg, Hale, Lodge,
Watson of Indiana, Moses, Wads-
worth, McCumber, Knox, Brandegee,
Nicholson, Willis, Calder, New, Curtis,
Kenyon, Borah and McNary, Repeub-
licans, and Underwood and Overman,
Democrats.
Leaving the Capitol after his two
hour conference, the President was
on his way to the White House, when
he passed Senator Borah, coming out
of the senate Office building. The
White House motors stopped abruptly,
and the President waved to Senator
Borah, who came up to the Presidents
car. They were seen to talk vigorous
ly, then exchanged handshakes, while
the cars got under way.