The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-08-23

the board Of the services of men trying
70 help in the work OF liquidation, and
that 1t was intended to cripple the efforts
Of those who had inherited a bad legacy
which Chairman Lasker was trying TO
clear up.
President Harding's appearance be-
fore the Senate last month In opposition
to passage OF the soldiers bonus bill
started a storm OF debate in the Senate
tonight when the Shipping Board de-
ficlency bill was being considered. dur
ing which his course was criticized and
defended.
The discussion was started by Senator
La Toilette. Republican (Wis.). who re-
ferred to the resolution introduced In the
House yesterday by Representative
Cochran. Democrat IN. W, criticising
the President for addressing one branch
OF Congress on pending legislation. and
drew many Senators into the fray.
Senator Lodge, the Republican leader.
called attention TO the peace without
victory" speech OF President Wilson to
the Senate prior to American entrance
into the war and his address on the sur
frage amendment later.
1t would be a sad day, the Massachu-
sets Senator said, for the Republic when
any one OF the three branches OF the
Government could not confer with an
other.
Declaring It was not necessary either
to criticize or eulogize Mr.. Harding"
Senator Borah, Republican (Idaho). said
that on the question of the bonus I'VE
surrendered our judgment to his dicta-
ton" II the President wanted prece-
dent there were plenty. he declared, add
ing that this did not change the situa-
ton.
Mr.. La Toilette assailed the President
for what he described as Executive in
reference with the legislative branch OF
the Government. He asserted that the
President was brought into the debate
TO prevent passage 90 the bill and that
his action was without authority under
the Constitution.
1T were well If that black page in
the Senates history could be destroyed
and forever forgotten" Mr.. La Toilette
declared. 1T was remarkable that
alarm should seize the Presidents mind
when the soldiers bonus bill was pend
ing and cause him TO appear at the Sen
ate TO rescue the nations finance from
utter destruction"
Mr. Lodge declared he saw mo reason
for declaring the President from Con-
gress. and Senator Knox, Republican
tPa.). INTERCEPTED:
And / see no reason why Congress
should be barred from the White House.
as has occurred in the last eight years"
Mr.. Lodge also cited numerous con-
stitutional provisions which he said gave
TO the President full authority to ad-
dress either branch of Congress at his
pleasure. saying that II would be i'm
possible for the President 20 speak to
both houses IL only one were in session.
Asserting that he never had heard such
a violent dcnunciation OF Wilson" as had
been directed at Mr.. Harding. Senator
Kellogg, Republican (Minn.). said he
was unable to understand the reason
for It,
Mr. Borah explained that he was in
full accord with the President on the
bonus question. but that his criticism
was aimed at the appearance of Presi-
dent, whether Mr. Wilson or Mr.. Har-
ding.
Il am unable to find anything like II
prior to the Wilson Administration he
said, with all due respect, I know of
no more pitiable spectacle ever presented
TO the people than that OF the Senate in
throwing down the bonus bill after 1t
had been reported and the President had
come here to oppose 1t. 1t was because
he came here that we surrendered our
judgment to his dictation.
Blow mt Sennte's Dignity.
The Republican party had made
solemn pledge for enactment of bonus
legislation. There was not an item in
the Presidents message that was not
before US. We had made the bill the
unfinished business and had given the
assurance II would be pushed and
passed. 1t would have passed II 1t had
been put to vote.
while i think the President was
right in his attitude on the bonus, the
moment he left this chamber the bill
was as dead as julius Caesar. Now what
becomes of the greatest legislative body
in the world?"
Senator New. Republican (Ind.). sug-
gested that the Presidents speech had
given Senators courage to change their
position. and Mr.. Knox said ne took
credit 10 himself when his views were
changed by the superior argument OF
another
Later in the argument Senator STAN
Icy. Democrat (Ky). chided the Re
publicans for "the squabble" and added
You on that side are to be congratu-
lated. There was a time when you
could not say too much or too Ill about
President Wilson. Now you make him
the standard nv which IN fudge the