Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-01-09
PRESIDENT AND
CHIEFS DISCUSS
PARTY WELFARE
At WHITE HOUSE
Solidarity and How to In
crease the Efficiency in
Congress Topics at Din
ner Saturday Night,
EARLY ENACTMENT OF
SOLDIER BONUS BILL
Foreign Debt Funding Meas
ure is Slated for ConSid-
GRAFTON Sooni Senate Pro-
gram Outlined,
lRv rhe Assoclnted Press.l

Washington, Jan. (by the AS
sociated Press. "A move toward
party solidarity and an effort to
find ways and means of increasing
the efficiency of the republican
party in congress, it was learned
today, was the two-fold purpose of
the White House dinner Saturday
night which brought together
Harding and representative repub-
Ncan leaders.
Decision was practically reached
on what was described as two
matters of first importance; Early
enactment of soldier bonus bill,
and early assembling of a republi-
can senate conference to reconcile
any differences which may be
found to exist in party councils
over the form to be given lesisla-
tion for refunding allied debts.
These subjects were inter-con-
nected in the discussion since the
possible income of the debts, 1t
was fairly generally agreed. stood
out as the best chance of recoup-
ing bonus expenditure with a sales
tax suggested as the only alterna-
tive.
Those Who Attended.
Secretary Weeks and Attorney
General Daugherty participated, as
did Chairman John T. Adams, of
the republican national commit
tee: Senators Lodge, Watson, of
Indiana; Curtis, Brandegee, and
McCumber; Speaker Gillett and
Republican Leadec Mondell from
the house. and Representatives
Madden, Illinois; Fordnev, Michi-
gan; Darrow, Pennsylvania; An
derson, Minnesota; and Saunders,
Indiana. Chiefly, the discussion
bore on the legislative situation In
the senate. where it was agreed
that the three most important
measures, aside from the routine
Of appropriations. the tariff. the
bonus and refunding proposals.
needed argument and adjustment
to force them through semi-block-
ades.
Debt Funding Measure.
Senate leaders had today an out
line of a program for the senate
which indicated that after dispos-
ing of the Newberry contest, and
the proposed amendment to the
federal reserve act, action first
would be sought on the foreign
debt funding measure. The soldier
bonus bill was slated as next, with
provisions for payment dependent
largely by the final form of the
debt funding legislation. Republi-
can party conferences on each
question are scheduled for the
near future it was understood.
Following the bonus bill, sena-
tors said, either the tariff or the
arms treaty would be the senate's
work. Some senators did not be-
lieve that the tariff bill would be
ready to take third place while
others declared that the import
tax schedules would be completed by
February 10, date which they
believed would be earlier than the
treaties would be submitted.
President Harding was said to
have indicated his view that con-
gressional members should furnish
the leadership and basis for agree
ments, particularly on formulating
policies, but expressed a desire to
cooperate. Secretary Weeks sug-
gested that the debated questions
should be thrown into party eau
Gus and that the majority having
so developed its views, should pro-
ceed to enact legislation according
ly.
Objections Voiced.
Objections were voiced, II was
said, by participants from con-
gress. Operations Of consider
able number of western republic
can senators, associated in the ag-
ricultural bloc, though embarra S.
ing to the administration, it was
represented by the associates, were
dictated not by hostility to the adj
ministration. but by political sem
timent in their own states which
hazard their re-elections. The cry
Of caucus domination" if raised,
might force them, it was argued, in
open cooperation with four or five
republican senator's now sitting,
whose definite purpose was de-
Jared to be to annoy the republican
administration.
The president re-stated his po-
sition towards attempted amend
ment of the federal reserve act,
which would require him, IL adopt
ed, specifically to appoint farmer
on the reserve board. ,He would
not object. it was said, to some re-
quirements specifying representa-
tives of agriculture, industry and
commerce, but does oppose sin
gle mandate for a farmer.
Further, the conference formu-
lated the view that very consider
able accomplishment had been reg
istered by congress under the re-
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