Evening journal., 1922-04-26

Senators favoring the bonus have al
ready started to prospect the ground
in this respect. They argue that a
bill legalizlng the bonus can be per-
fected later on and give to the boys
what they want.
Curtain Raiser Provided.
The Democratic Senators yester-
day provided a curtain raiser to the
bonus drama which is to be enacted
in the Senate when the Finance
Committee reports a bill relating to
the subject. The secret meetings of
the Finance Committee Republicans
provoked Senator Walsh (Mass) to
voice a vigorous protest against such
proceedings on the part OF the ma
jority:
Il protest against such meetings"
said Senator Walsh, because the
selfish interests of these men should
be made known to the full commit
tee and the people. Suspicion nat
urally attaches to any bill prepared
under such circumstances. Such
legislation goes far toward making
people lose confidence In their repre-
sentatives. There can be no jHstifi-
cation for a secret meeting to con-
slider a bill of this kind. Further
more this should not be a partisan
measure, and for that reason the
minority members of the Finance
Committee are entitled to all the
evidence submitted for and against
IT,"
In 49, tor
Walsh for light on the subject, Sena-
tor McCumber declared no regular
meeting OF the committee had been
held, but merely an informal gath
ering.
The Senator from Massachusetts,
has erected a man of straw" said
Mr.. McCumber "and proceeded TO
knock him down. He must know of
the difference OF opinion between
the President and those in favor of
adjusted compensation legislation.
As chairman of the Finance Com
mittee / am ready to talk to the rep
resentatives of the soldiers and ex-
plain these differences. II is not
necessary to take any more testi- !
mony as far as the cause OF the sol |
diers is concerned.
Whether it will be necessary to
draft a new bill to raise the needed |
revenue is another matter II we find |
II is necessary such a suggestion |
must originate in the House. The |
Senator is wrong in asserting that |
It was a secret meeting yesterday. |
IL was merely an informal talk"
rs II a fact that certain members !
OF the finance committee held a |
meeting on the bonus asked Sem
ator Walsh
Yes. four Of u.s." replied Mr.. No
Cumber.
rs It fact that certain represen-
tatives of the American Legion and |
other veterans organizations were
PRESENT." persisted Senator Walsh. |
Yes" replied Mr.. McCumber.
I'VE talked the matter over in an
informal way"
WAS the press excluded2" asked
the Massachusetts Senator.
Yes" admitted Mr. McCumber.
Senator Walsh then produced an
official record of the meeting and
repeated his protest against such
methods.
Senator Watson came to the relief
Of Mr.. McCumber by saying that
informal conferences had been held
with several officers Of veterans or
Does the Senator from
think 1 ought to have
sent for him?" he asked.
Senator Walsh replied that he did
feel so. 1T is a very bad and danger
Gus precedent" commented the Mas
sachusetts Senator, for members
OF the committees to meet and hear
witnesses in favor of certain legis-
lation behind closed doors. If we are
to safeguard the rights Of the people
and win their confidence such things
should be done in the open"
After more of this sort OF colloquy
the opening furry over the bonus
was wound up by Senator King
CDem.. Utah), who declared such
legislation Is tainted II not vitiated.
Such legislative methods are danger
Gus and discredlt our parliamentary
system"