The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-03-20
BONUS BILL HAS
FEATURES new
TO PRESIDENT.
Mondell Hopes to Win Harding
Over to Measure in the
Conference Set
for Monday.
CALLS 1T BEST ONE
THUS FAR PRESENTED
Minority Views Say Loan
Scheme UnsOund and Involves
Facing 600 Million
Settlement.
tey The Associated Press)


WASHINGTON, March 19.-1Pres-
dent Harding made an enga cement
today with republican house leaders
for tomorrow to discuss the soldier
bonus situation. Because of appoint
ments made before his return from
Florida he was unable to grant their
request for a conference tonight.
Representative Mondell Of wyoming,
therepublican floor leader, said tonight
the whole situation would be laid be-
for tho president and the compromise
bank loan plan would be fully ex-
planned Mr.. Mondell would not VEN
ture an opinion as to whether the bill
would be called up in the house to-
morrow under a suspension of the
rules, but he appeared to be confident
that there would be no development
at the white house conference that.
would cause serious alteration of the
plan TO put the measure through soon.
Bill Eary on Treasury.
we have a bin quite different from
anything the president has expressed
an opinion on" said Mr.. Mondell, "and
bill that lays no more burden on the
treasury next year than does the forth
coming road bill, for instance.
I'VE suspended the rules two years
ago TO pass the first bonus bill and
there is good reason to handle the
measure that way There are men
who have no responsibility in the mat
ter who would come forward with
amendments, not for the purpose of
improving the bill, but tomalxe trouble |
If we have about the best bill we can
get, there is no reason to allow the mi |
nority to embarrass our people"
1--WE have got the best bill we can
get and very good one and the sooner |
we pass 1t the better.
Soon after Mr.. Harding returned |
here today he had an hours confer
ence with Secretary Mellon at the /
white house. There was no official /
statement as to the conference, but it |
Was understood that the bonus ques-
tion was discussed.
An attack on the bonus measure was
made in minority views, made public
today BY Representatives Treadway of i
Massachusetts and Tilton of Connec-
ticutt, republican members OF the ways
and means committee. They declared
their belief that the BILL If enacted
into law, would do more harm to the
people OF the country, the veterans
themselves and their families included,
than it will do good to the individual
benehciaries"
Loan Scheme Unsound
The committeeman centered their
attack principally on the bank loan
provision of the adjusted service Ger
tifcate and the land settlement title.
They asserted that the loan scheme
TN, Il; Z
nomically and unfortunate from every
point Of view at this particular time
us could possibly be devised"
The land settlement title. they said, |.
offers untold opportunity for reckless
expenditure, is dangerous at the worst
and uncertain at the best" and. they
added, "there is a firmly grounded be-
lief in the minds OF many that this
provision has been saddled upon this
bin with the hope and expectation of
carrying through congress on the
sturdy backs of the veterans a meas
ure so fraught with dangerous possi-
hilities and uncertainties that.it would
receive scant support II forced to stand
alone in the open on its own merits"
Faee 600 Millions.
Calling attention that the loan pro-
'AS4uh haS oeeAl ulSdpprONeQ Dy hlgn
nscal officers of the government, the
committeeman asserted that "a serious
defect" in the bill was the "entire lack
OF amortization. taxation or refundinsl
for anticipated payment OF the large
sum the government will owe in three
years" when the bank loan period
would expire and the veterans holding
certificates would be authorized to
borrow direct from the government.
They estimated that at that time the
treasury would have to provide $780,
100000 for advances to banks on un-
paid loans made 10 veterans and to
the veterans themselves
Election Dodge.
Attention is called" says the report.
ito the significance Of the date the
certificates are to bear. namely oct. 1.
1922. With large force of clerks
and the best expert assistance possible.
comparatively few certificates could Ii
be issued by that time, and ii WOULD
be at least six months before any large
number could be put out. The reason
for the date. therefore, of the operation
..s,, Continued on Page 50