New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-08
Goes to Capitol Unexpect-
edly, Lunches With His
"Old Crowd and Asks
Soldier Bill Be Held Up
FavOrs Veterans
Measure Later
Wishes to Rush Financial
Laws First and Calls
for Recess Until Fall
to Let Committees Act
From The Tribune's Washington Bureaa

expectedly this afternoon for the
first time since the beginning of his
Administration. He had lunch with
the Senators and urged that the
Senate defer action on the soldiers
bonus bill and recess or adjourn un-
til September l.
He asked that the bonus bill bd
recommltted to the Finance COM
mittee until after the tariff and tax.
alton bills are passed. The effect Of
this would be to defer action on the
bonus measure until the regular ses-
sion next winter. In his talks with
Senators the President told them hs
was In favor of bonus legislation,
but did not believe it should be-
passed until the financial and reve.
nue. questions connected with it have
been clarified. The President re-
ferred to some of the arguments
made by Secretary of the Treasury
Mellon in his letter against the bonus
as reasons for postponement.
Mr.. Harding informed Senator's
that he would send to Congress a
special message in day or two.
dealing with the question of ths
bonus and adjournment. The Presi-
dent wants legislation this session
confined as far as possible to tariff
revision and tax revision.
Came to See "Old Crowd.
After his conferences with Senator's,
President Harding said he had come
to see the Capitol, "primarily to have
little lunch with the old crowd, talk a
little about the legislative program and
see how more speed could be had in
getting the things for which the extra
session was called" The bonus was
discussed, the President said
In answer to a question as to his
attitude on the bonus bill the Presi.
dent said:
"The Executive was publicly commit.
ted long while ago to favorable at.
titude, but may express to Congress
soon his position in a more formal
way.
"The question of recess was dis
cussed," the President added. "a great
many of us think we would expedite
the things for which the extra session
was called by some process of recess
ing and getting the committees tos
gether on the things for which the exc
ira session was distinctly called"
Tonight it is uncertain whether ths
Presidents Intervention will result in
recommitting the bonus bill or in an
adjournment. AS recess must be had
by agreement, that is not likely. Lead
ers admitted they had not the votes yet
counted to recommit the bonus bill or
to force an adjournment. However,
they say the Presidents message may
give them enough to recommit the
bonus measure. 1t IS evident there VIII
be bitter fight over recommitting the
measure. Senator McCumber, m
charge of it, will continue to press fox
action on it.
With respect to adjournment of ths
Senate until September 1, this plan will
be strongly opposed by the agricultural
"bloc" unless certain agricultural meas
ures are first passed. Senators of this
<
oppose quitting unless several measures
for relief of the farmers were enacted.
The President does not object to soms
of these, but is opposed to others.
Compromises Are Sought
Efforts are being made to compro.
mise on a plan for passing a bill to in-
crease the limit of loans under the
farm loan system from $4,000 to $751;
coo, the bill to put on the reserve board
the Secretary of Agriculture or az
representative of the farmers, and the
bill to increase to 8 IL per cent the rate
on bonds Of the joint stock land banks
and the farm loan system. The last
mentioned bill has passed the Senate
and is pending in the House. The
President is understood not to oppose
these The Administration is not favor-
able to the Norris bill for farm ex-
port financing corporation, which the
agricultural group favors, and there
will be controversy in the Senate over
whether to adjourn before disposing of
this bill. The grain futures bill, which
the agricultural group wants passed.
also will be the subject of contro-
versy.
President Harding was informed
fatty by Senator Simmons, ranking
Democrat on the Finance Committee.
tnaC ne was IOr Cne MOTIFS Dlll, ana
would fight all efforts to sidetrack it BY
adjournment or otherwise. The Presi-l
dent conferred with Senator Norris,
who is chairman of the Agricultural
Committee, and found that lie was also
insistent on the export corporation
bill
The President went to the Capitol at
l O'Clock and remained there for two
hours at the Senate end of the build
ing. He was accompanied by Senator
/ Frelinghuysen and his secretary.
George B. Christian. On arriving at
the Capitol he took luncheon in the
Senator'S private dining room with
Senator'S Knox, Lodge, Wadsworth.
Spencer, Hale, Harreld, Brandegee.
son, of Indiana; Mckinley. Sterling and
McNary. With the President, fifteen
were at the table. The luncheon was
simple and informal affair. Senator
Knox was seated at the Presidents
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