Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-07-12
Decision to Abandon
Joint Message and
to Address S ena t e
Only Follows Con-
ference with Party
Leaders Given AS
surances Motion to
RecOmmit Measure
Would Be Adopted

Washington, July IL President
Harding plans to appear before the
Senate tomorrow and ask for tenn
porary postponement of the soldier
bonus bill
Plans for the Presidents address to
the Senate were discussed late today
by the executive with Senator Lodge
of Massachusetts, Republican and
Senator Curtis of Kansas, Republican
whip.
1t is understood that the bonus bill
will be the only subject touched upon
in the address, and that suggestions
for joint address to the Congress or
the transmission only of a message
have been abandoned.
The President, it was said, had ex-
pected to address the Senate today,
but was prevented by pressure of
other business. He is now expected
to speak in the Senate chamber to-
morrow afternoon, but if delayed
further 1t is expected that he will do
so not later than Wednesday.
1t will be the second time President
Harding has addressed the Senate,
the first time being Immediately after
he was inaugurated when he present.
ed in person his cabinet nominations
at an execution session. He has ad-
dressed one joint session of congress,
when he read his message at the
Of hr in1
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 House while the
Senate is debating the measure
Senators Lodge and Curtis were said
to have given him assurances that a
motion to rccommit the bonus bill
would be adopted. At the conference
the entire legislative situation was
said to have been discussed, although,
it was added that the President in
speaking to the Senate would not dis
cuss tariff or tax legislation.
When the Senate resumed consid-
Grafton of the soldiers bonus bill to-
day. Senator Norris, Republican, Ne
braslla, introduced an amendment
directing" the secretary of the treas
ury to collect interest due on allied
debts, the fund to be set aside to pay
the bills expense.
, why is it the governments cam
not pay their INTEREST,"" Senator Nor
ris 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 on their
own bonds just as we are" he said.
Senator Norris said he was advised
by the treasury that accrued interest
/ on the foreign loans on May Is. was
nine hundred and twenty two million
dollars. Greece and Cuba, alone, he
said, had paid all their interest.
Senator Reed. Democrat, Missouri,
suggested that European nations APP
ply toward their debts money they
now are spending in fights over
there"
1T is time to get out of dream
. land" he added ut is time for
Europe to stop fighting and to begin
paving"
"Since the great League of Nations
/ came along" said Senator Norris.
/ 1.-The European nations have spent
more in warfare and in attempting to
subdue rebellious peoples than would
paw ali the interest they owe"
Senator Watson, Republican, In
diana, objected to the provision Of the
Norris amendment directing the sec
rotary of the treasury to collect the
interest due on foreign loans, explain
ing that the provision might be d.
rection to do the impossible
p Senator Wadsworth, Republican,
New York described as grave
mistake" the institution of the system
whereby men in service during the
World War were compelled to turn
over a portion of their pay as allot-
ments to their dependents.