The New York herald., 1922-06-13
McCumber Is Unable to OBJ
tain Agreement on a
Time to Vote.
TARIFF STILL HOLDS WAY
Republican Leaders Virtually
Decide Not to Sidetrack
Revenue Measure.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. C., June 12.
Chairman McCumber Of tie Senate
Finance Committee failed to-day to
obtain an agreement from anti-bonus
Senators to vote on the bonus bill
within two days after it is before the
Senate. He was told on both sides of
the chamber that Senators intend to
debate the measure "at some length"
They refused to be muzzled in the
slightest degree.
When the Republican leaders learned
the intentions of the anti-bonus Sena-
tors informal conferences were held
don TIE plan of bringing in the bonus
bill before the tariff bill is passed. No
final decision. however. was reached
pending the return Wednesday of
Senator Lodge (Mass.), the Republican
floor leader.
While Senator Lodge is favorable to
the bonus. his friends in the Senate be-
lieve he will hesitate to sidetrack the
tariff bill even temporarily for its con-
sideration at this time. Senator Cur
tbs (Kan), the Republican whip. an
other bonus advocate, Is inclined to
favor keeping the tariff before the Sem
ate until the issue is settled.
Many Republican leaders In the Sem
ate are convinced that once the bonus
bill Is in the Senate the tariff measure
will be jeopardized IL not killed. They
argue that six to eight weeks will be
required to dispose Of the bonus bill.
since the anti-bonus Senators feel so
keenly on the subject and are deter
mined to fight the measure to the limit.
Since there are no restrictions on de-
bate on the subject and those opposed
to a bonus can prevent any cloture rule.
the Republican leaders fear the bill
may lead to an indefinitely prolonged
debate.
Again the Republican leaders realize
that the insurgency against the pend
ing tariff bill is growing by leaps and
bounds even on the majority side of the
Senate and some of them fear many
Republican Senators would jump at a
chance to "get out from under" that
measure. The bonus might provide the
necessary vehicle in that II would offer
an opportunity for extended debates
even for the bonus Senators, who could
kill two birds with one stone. so to
speak, in that they could be ''soft-soap-
ing the ex-service men by eulogistic
speeches and at the same time be "spik-
ing the tariff bill, which has been con-
demned and denounced generally by the
press regardless of political proclivities.
In all their calculations the Repub-
lican leaders have not consulted Chair
man McCumber on the bonus program.
There Is a strong feeling in the Senate
that Mr.. McCumber went the limit
when he agreed to postpone a motion
to bring the bill before the Senate for
a week or ten days. Leading Senators
in close touch with him say he will
fight the movement now on foot to de-
lay consideration of the bonus bill any
further However, Il is believed that at
a showdown he would be overridden by
the Republican leaders. In that event
the Democratic Senators undoubtedly
would force the bonus bill before the
Senate. They would be Joined in that
step by few Republican Senators. but
II is not believed the combined force
would provide the necessary majority.
Legion omciaIs Explain.
Officials OF the American Legion have
notified Senate leaders they will be sat
isfied TO have the bonus bill enacted at
any time this session and they are not
demanding that II replace the tariff on
the calendar. On the other hand. Sem
ator McCumber wants action now. as his
primary Is to be held June 2s. and he
thinks II he can jam the bill through
the Senate now IL will help his cam
paign.
The chief concern OF the Democratic
Senators is to make political capital out
of the bonus bill, and for that reason
they will be content to put the Republi-
can Senators on record on the proposal
for immediate consideration. Should the
vote be in favor OF postponement the
Democrats will tell the ex-service men
Continued on Pare Seven.