The New York herald., 1921-07-08
Visits Senate Office and
Urges Members to Hasten
Work for Which Extra
Session Was Called.
TOO MANY SIDE ISSUES
President Lunches With
Old Associates and Lays
Down Law Bluntly on
Revenue Revision.
is FOR A SENATE RECESS
Would Favor Bonus at Proper
Time in Future-Talks on
Disarmament and Agri-
cultural Matters.
specta, Despatch to THE NEW Yonk arnAls

New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., July q.
President Harding motored to the
Capitol to-day and told Republican
and Democratic leaders of the Sen
ate that he does not want a soldiers
bonus bill passed at this session.
Mr.. Harding's visit was unexpected,
as it is rare occasion when
President goes in person to thrash
out legislation with members of the
Senate.
The President did not stop with
the bonus. In the Senate dining
room, where he lunched; in his room
across from the Senate Chamber, ann
In his automobile in front OF the
Senate ONCE Building he held con-
ferences for two hours on the tarin,
taxation, agricultural measures, dis
armament and the question of q
Senate recess.
Harding Talks Emphatfcaiiy.
In plain language the President tolc
the Senators that with the Govern.
ment's finances in their present un'
certain condition the Administrator
was strongly opposed to enactment
OF the bonus bill, which would mean
new drain on the Treasury Of sew
eral billions OF dollars. Bluntly h.
declared that he had called the extra
session of Congress on April IL to
revise the taxes and the tariff, ana
that 1t was time Congress attended
TO these matters and sidetracked
such proposals as the bonus bill.
He suggested that the Senate send
the bonus bill back to the Finance
Committee and to recess until such
time as the House was ready to send
the tariff bill over for consideration.
The Republican Senate leaders also
spoke plainly to the President. They
told him he had given the impression
TO the country that he favored the
bonus bill. and now the Senate was
left holding the bag" They asked
him whether he was ready to assume
responsibility for the defeat or post.
ponement OF the bill.
The President answered in the az
firmative and promised either to
issue a public statement or to deliver
to Congress a formal message urging
that the bonus bill be laid aside
while tax and tariff revision are be-
ing settled. II is expected that the
President will soon send such a mes
sage to Congress. sS
Forced 20 Assume Lcndership.
Within the last few days President
Harding has been impressed with
the necessity OF HIS taking the lead
ership on Capitol Hill. as we'll as in
the Executive Department OF the
Government. When Congress met on
April IL the President was led to be-
lieve that the tariff bill would be
ready for presentation to the House
BY Representative Fordney. chair
man OF the Ways and Means Com
mittee. almost Immediately. II Is
now the 9TH day Of July. and debate
cn the tariff bill has not yet started
"a the fiouse Nothing has been done
t1ward advancing taa revision.
Meantime. Congress has got itself
irto a snari over the question OF
phether 90 sidetrack the tariff bill
and put tax revision ahead. which
probably will be done when these
measures reach the Senate. As rev.
enue legislation must originate in
the House. there Is nothing for the
senate 20 DO for the present but con-
sider subjects for which the extra
W. sNion was not called and which
seem likely 90 further muddle the
situation
Cabinet members and leaders in
the business world have told the
President that business conditions
will not recover until the tax and
tariff questions are settled. Tho
President has not desired 20 use the
whip on Congress. but he has given
T. chance 10 get down TO work. and
:. has not done so II has only sue
ceeded In getting into a nasty tangle.
While II II too early TO say just
what action the Senate viii taks m
regard 20 the bonus bill and the re.
cess. the Republican leaders will
get TO work 10 carry out the Presi.
cents wishes as best they can. When
tie full responsibility for what har'
pens Is shouldered publicly by