The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-07-13
HARDING THROWS WEIGHT
AGAINST BONUS MEASURE
Goes to Capitol and Tells Seua-
tors He Endorses Mellon 0n
Legislation for Ex.S0Idisrs

Washington. July President
Harding paid an unexpected visit
To the senate today and, it is ,un.
derstood. imposed the weight OF his
personal influenceAo defer action on
the soldier bonus bill unrl clearer
understanding of the governments
financial outlook has been made pos
sible by enactment of new tariff and
tax laws.
In an hours conference with sen.
ate leaders, the president is UNDER
stood to have endorsed the views Of
Secretary Mellon that bonus legisia..
tion now might be a serious embras-
rassment to the treasury. and even
to have suggested that all other
legislative business be suspended to
permit completion of the tariff and
tax revisions as soon as possible. BY
those who talked with him, he was
quoted as favoring a recess Of con.
gres5 while the committees in charge
are Fastening perfection of the two,
measures on account of which the
special session was called.
While the president was giving
his opinion to senator after senator,
in his room off the senate cham
ber, the senate itself was debating
the bonus bill with sponsors for the.
measure confident OF its passage.
2y an overwhelming vote the bill
:ad been brought to the senate floor
is a special order of business and
.'e senator's in charge were inclined
- rcedict that even the opposition
Of Secretary Mellon would not be
sufficient to deny it.
Outlook More Uncertain
Tonight the outlook generally was
admitted to be more uncertain.
Leaders had not yet made a canvass
to ascertain just how much weight
the visit of the president might have
and the disposition in most quarters
was to await Mr. Hardings message
before forcing showdown. After
the message has been received IL is
regarded as likely that an attempt
will be made to send the bonus bill
back to committee and then secures
another vote on the recess proposal
which failed of adoption several days
ago by a margin of four votes.
IN their opposition to a recess the
bonus advocates are expected to
have the aid of various other senate.
elements who want action on some
particular class of legislation. Not
the least potential of these groups.
1t generally is expected. will be the
agricultural bloc which are determin
ed to put through series of relief
measures for the farmer. The final
division, is expected to be along
group rather than party lines. .. I
Talks With Senator's
Leaders of the elements most
anxious to push particular measures
to enactment were among the irst
to be summoned into conferences by
the president when re reached his
room at the capitol. Sen ctor Nc
Cumber, Republican, North Dakota.
in charge of the bonus bill and Sem
ators Norris. Republican, Nebraska.
Kenyon. Republican. Iowa, and Sim
mons. Democrat, North Carolina.
prominent in the agricultural group.
were said to have been told frankly
and emphatically by Mr.. Harding
that he considered completion OF the
tariff and tax program the prime du-
ty OF the federal government. In
each case the president puuctuated
his arguments by vigorous gestures
and mods of the head.
Mr.. Harding's conferences on the
legislative situation were held after
Re had broken a precedent by taking
luncheon with party of senator's in
the senate restaurant. Most of those
in whose company he was accustom-
ed to take his meals during his sena-
torial days were at the table and
the president made a manifest effort
to make the visit as informal as
possible.