Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-23
FIVE MEN BLOWN TO PIECES
IN TRIPLE BOILER BLAST
HARDING COURSE ON
BONUS AGAIN subject
FOR SENATE DEBATE

Washington, Aug. 22.-President
Harding's appearance before the SEN
ate last month in opposition to pass
age of the Soldiers bonus bill start
ed a storm of debate in the Senate
tonight when the shipping board de-
ficiency bill was being considered,
during which his course was criticized
and defended. The discussion was
started by Senator LaFollette. Repub-
lican, Wisconsin, who referred to the
resolution introduced in the House by
Representative Cochran, Democrat,
New York, criticiZing the president
for addressing one branch of congress
on pending legislation and drew many
senators into the fray.
Senator Lodge, the Republican
leader, called attention to the peace
without victory speech of former
President Wilson to the Senate. prior
to American entrance into the war
and his address on the suffrage
amendment later.
1t would be Il sad day, the, Mass
achusetts Senator said for the Re-
public when any one of the three
branches of the government could not
confer with another.
Declaring lit was not necessary
either to criticize or eulogize Mr..
Harding" Senator Borah. Republican.
Idaho, said that on the question of
the bonus I'VE surrender our judg-
ment to his dictation." If the pres
ident wanted a precedent he had
plenty. declared, and added that this
did not change the situation.
Mr.. LaFollette asailed the president
for what he described as executive
interference with the legislative
branch of government. He asserted
the debate TO prevent passage of the
bill and that his action was without
authority under the constitution.
1T were we'll if that black page in
the Senates history could be destroy
ed and forever gotten" Mr.. LaFollette
declared. 1t was remarkable that
alarm should seize the presidents
mind when the. soldiers bonus bill
was pending, and appear at the Sen
utter destruction"
Mr. Lodge declared he saw mo rea-
son for debarring the president" from
Congress, and Senator Knox, Republi-
can. Pennsylvania. interjected: And
IL see no reason why Congress should
be barred from the White House. as
has occurred in the past eight years.
Mr. Lodge also cited numerous con-
stitutional provisions which he said
gave the president full authority to
address either branch of Congress at
his pleasure saving that it would be
Impossible for the president TO speak
10 both houses if only one were IN
session. Asserting that he never had
Mcard such a violent denunciation OF
Wilson" as had been directed at Mr..
Harding. Senator Kellogg, Republican.
Minnesota. said he was unable to un-
derstand the reason for it.
Mr. Borah explained that he was
in full accord with the president on
! the bonus question, but that his crit
ic!s.n was aimed at the appearance of
a president whether Mr.. Wilson Or
Nh Harding.
! Il am unable to find anything lik,
! it prior to the Wilson administration.
h. said. with all due respect, / know
Of no more pitiable spectacle ever pre-
scented to the people than that of the
Senate in throwing down the bonus
hili after it had been reported and the
president had come here to oppose it.
1t was because he came here that We
surrendered our judgment to his DIG
tation.
The Republican party had made a
solemn pledge for enactment of bonus
legislation There was not an item
in the presidents message that was
not before us. We had made the bill
the unfinished business and had given
the assurance it would be rushed and
passed. 1t would have passed if it
had been put to a vote.
While l think the president was
right in his attitude on the bonus, the
moment he left this chamber the bill
was as dead as julius Caesar Now
what becomes of the greatest legisla-
! tive body in the world?"