Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-07-12
ASK SENATE. To |.
DEFER BONUS
Soldier Relief to be Only
Subject Mentioned in /
Plea
SENATE DEBATES BILL.
Legion Assails Plan For Delay, Call.
ing Action Mere ;Subterfuge I'M
terest Now S972,0O0,00

Washington, July u. President
Harding plans to appear before the
Senate tomorrow and ask for tenn!
porary postponement of the Soldier
Bonus bill.
Plans for tie Presidents address
were discussed late yesterday by the
Executive with Senator Lodge of
Massachuset:s Republican laader
and Senator Curtis, of Kansas. Re-
publican whip. It is understood
that the Bonus bill will be the only
subject touched upon in the address
and that suggestions for joint ad-,
dress to the Congress OF the trans.
mission only of a message have,
been abandoned.
The President, il was said, had:
expected to address the Senate yes
terday, but was prevented by pres;
sure of other business. lie is now;
expected to speak in the Senate.
Chamber tomorrow afternoon. but if.
delayed further it is expected that
he will do so not later than Wednes-
day.
Decision to address The Senate on
the Bonus bill at the earliest oppor-
tunity was reached by the President
in conference with The Republican:
leaders at the White I!arse while
the Senate was debating the meas
ure. Senator's Lodge and Curtis
were said to lave given him assur.
ances that a motion to recommit the
Bonus bill would be adopted. AT
the conference the entire Legislative
situation was said to haze been dis
cussed, although it was added that
the President in speaking to the
Senate would not discuss tariff or
tax legislation.
When the Senate resumed consld-
Grafton of the Soldier Bonus bill yes
terday, Senator Norris, Republican.
Nebraska, introduced an amendment
directing" the Secretary OF the
Treasury to collect interest on Allied
debts, the fund to be set aside to pay
the bills expense.
"Why is it the governments can
not pay their interest?' Senator
Norris asked, adding that in some
cases it probably was impossible
and in few instances that the entire
loans would be lost.
"But in the main the foreign Gov
ernments are paying interest or
their own bon Is just as we are" ne
said.
Senator Norris said he was ad-
vised by the Treasury that accrued
interest on the foreign loans on May
Is was S922,C0O,OO0. Greece and
Cuba alone, he said, had paid al
their interest.
Senator Watson, Republican, In
diana. objected to the provision Of
the Norris amendment directing The
Secretary of "he Treasury to collect
the interest que on foreign loans,
explaining that the provision might
be direction to do thc impossible
Senator McCumber attacked the
Norris amei1ment, declaring he
could see no reIson why the receipt
from the foreign loans should Re
applied 10 anv specific indebtedness
Senator Wadsworth described as
"a grave mistake" the Institution o.
the system whereby men IN ser"cs
during the World War We're COME
cid to turn over portion OF sHe''
nav as allotments to their depend.
ents. To rrctify that mistake hs
proposed that the Government re- "
to the men the money turned o1e;
for allotment purposes He sad ae
had been advised this would an''cn'
to about ss5O,OOO,oOo and won
benefit those most needing DO =
Designation of the pending hill a:
an adjusted compensation measure
was described by Senator Wadswortt
! as misnomer, because, he said ]
J would distribute cash int'scriminat
" and without regard 10 need. ~
Plans to- delay consideration of tn
bonus measure. were attacked by tn
legislative committee If the Ameri
can Legion in a statemcn last nigh
1t referred to the letter of Secretar
Mellon urging that consideration b
deferred as intellectually dishoneS
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