Evening star., 1922-03-11
PRESIDENT IS AWAY
T0AvO|D B|CKER|NG
DispIeased With Impression
of His "Wavering Attitude"
on Bonus Question:
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

The showdown in leadership be-
tween President Harding and Con-
gress has come.
Hints from st. Augustine corre-
spendents that the President took a
trip to Florida at this critical moment
in affairs of state for reasons other
than a needed rest are confirmed by
developments In the National Capital
itself
Mr.. Harding is not the type of man
who would have an open break with
the leaders in Congress. He does not
like bluster and political fireworks.
But the truth Of the situation is grad
ually coming out-he Is getting
weary of the estimate which certain
leaders in Congress- are placing upon
his leadership.
There is reason to believe that the
President is not at all happy about
the persistence of Representative
means COMMITTEES of the House. in
pushing to the front proposals that
may let Congress out Of its dilemma,
but only put the burden of q dis
tasteful action on the head Of the
party itself.
Sorry for Promises.
Mr.. Harding Is sorry he committed
himself to the principle of bonus.
but he means to go through with 1t
Just the same. What he cannot un-
derstand is why House leaders insist
upon trying what appears to him to
be impossible schemes for raising the
money.
The President is in favor of the
sales tax for many reasons He be-
lieves 1t will collect the money for
the bonus easily and he thinks it may
get a trial sufficient to prove to the
country that sales tax would be a
good substitute for most forms Of
taxation.
The difficulties between the Presi-
dent and Mr.. Fordney are by no
means of recent origin. They began
itself: Mr.. Fordney insisted on push
ing the tariff issue to the fore at a
time when the executive thought it
was wiser to defer action. Similar
embarrassment arose with the tax
bill carefully framed at the executive
lon and his experts. The Treasury
made tax bill that wouldn't mean a
deficit Mr. Fordney. much against
the wish Of the President, rewrote
the bill and waved aside the argu-
ment that it provided deficit by
saying the deficit was negligible
one.
Mellon Ii Ignored.
Nevertheless, President Harding in
his address to Congress publicly ex-
pressed his disapproval of the revenue
law and indicated that he wanted
changes at the earliest possible mo-
ment. Again and again leaders have
come from Congress to talk with the
President in the hope that he will
help them pull political chestnuts out
of the fire or that he will take a
stand which will mean increased in
statements from the Treasury to the
effect that the government cannot
stand a bonus at this time unless the
taxpayers want additional levies made
upon them through a sales tax have
mentative by leaders in Congress.
The expectation has been that Con-
gress could go ahead and pass what
ever bill it wished and the President
would be bound to approve 1t.
he was was not not in favor Of the present
House bill, men on Capitol Hill said,
oh, he will come around to it all right
let's go ahead and pass it, This
impression Of a wavering executive was
carried to the President. who has been
unable to conceal his disappointment
that such an idea about aim should
prevail in Congress-. Stirred by these
reports. Mr.. Harding decided to stand
pat and let Congress take full re-
sponsibinty for what happens next
politically or otherwise.
Same n for Treaties.
The same situation exists with ref
erence to the treaties. The President
feels he and Secretary Hughes did the
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