New-York tribune., 1922-08-21
Commander MacNider
Says Bill Is Sure To Be
Approved by Senate /; De-
bate Begins Wednesday
Harding Still in
Mood to Veto 1T
Chamber of Commerce, i'm
New Attack, Sees Cost of
Four and Half Billions

From The Tribune's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Aug. 20 -Lieuten-
ant Colonel Hanford MacNider, COM
mander of the American Legion, in a
statement tonight predicted the SOL
diers' bonus bill would be passed by
the Senate this week.
At the same time the Chamber of
Commerce of the United States made
a new attack on the bill and declared
it would increase the liabilities of the
government beyond any point hereto
fore reached in the history of the
country.
The Senate has adjourned until
Wednesday, when the bill will be taken
up for practically continuous con-
sideration. Its advocates intend to
drive it to passage by the end Of the
week, If possible, but it's opponents
predict this cannot be done.
Harding Still UnyieIding
President Harding's attitude is still
antagonists to the McCumber bill as 1t
stands. Senate leaders have talked
with him recently on the bill and have
found him unyielding and in mood to
veto the measure.
Further conferences with the Presi-
dent are expected to be held this week
by Senator'S in an effort to reach a
compromise. Commander MacNider, Of
the American Legion, issued the fol-
lowing statement:
Through the courtesy OF the press
wish to let veterans OF the war
and their friends know that the ad-
justed compensation bill will be taken
up and passed by the United States
Senate this week.
"The House Of Representatives last
ed vote of 333 to 10. In June it was
reported favorably by the Senate
Finance. Committee and made the spe-
cial order of business following the
tariff bill. The majority party in tn.
Senate at that time pledged itself
neither to recess nor adjourn until our
bill had been disposed Of.
The tariff bill is now out of the way
and the Senate will take up the ad.
Justed compensation bill Wednesday.
4 have Just completed persons
canvass of the situation here. whicf
shows the following:
THAT majority Of the Senate. in.
cluding both parties, favors the bill
and is pledged to vote for its passage
"Ihe American Legion has absolute
confidence in the good faith and in,
tegrity of the Senators. It realize.
that they believe in the justice of The
cause Of the soldier and knows tha,
they will keep the feith they have
pledged and pass the bill now"
In a letter to business organization.
IN every state julius H. Barnes, presi
dent OF the Chamber of Commerce o.
the United States, asks their support
in opposing the bill, which he says
twill increase the liabilities of tht
government beyond any point reached
in the history Of the country"
Provides No Way to Meet Drain
"The Senate bonus bill neither au.
thorizes an appropriation, provides any
method for raising the revenue, MOI
perfects any means for sinking funds
to meet the eventual liability" Mr.
Barnes said. ut authorizes banks to
advance loans on government certif.
Gates, the results Of which will be to
sequester cash which in the aggregate
will amount to hundreds of millions OF
dollars. Imitation of currency and
credit must inevitably follow. The bill
contains land settlement provisions
which are worthless in their applica-
tion. AS basis for computing bonus
the Senate Finance Committee took a
civilian wage compensation that as e
whole never existed during the period
of the war.
although the national debt in.
creased over 1900 per cent as result
of the war, the Senate Finance Com.
mittee proposes at this time to. add q
maximum of $4,486 100000 to the
financial burden of the government, de.
spite the fact that our estimated def.
icit for the current fiscal YEAR will an.
proach $50O,O00,o0O. The bonus will
add, according to reliable estimates
$77,000,00O in the year 1928, and $92,.
100000 will be added to our annual ex.
penses Of government in 1924: over
$73,0oo,00o in 1926 and s57,000,0o0 in
1896"