Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-03-25
Soldier Bonus Bill
Passed by House
BY Great Majority
Carrying 81, OOO,O0O,o00 for
World War Veterans, Bill
Now Goes to Senate for
Action

WASHINGTON, March 29.-The
four billion dollars soldiers bonus
bill was passed tonight by the house
by an overwhelming majority 1t
now goes to the senate, where its
fate is regarded as uncertain.
The vote was 333 to 20, or "a more
than the two-thirds majority neces-
sary for passage of the measure I'M
! der parliamentary pro edure selected
by Republican LEAD for the ex-
press purpose of evening the
Den ats from offering a motion to
recommit.
Party lines disappeared, both in
the general debate and on the final
roll call, 248 Republicans, "a Demo-
Gratis, and one Socialist supporting
the bill, and az Republicans and %
Democrats voting against it,
Representative Jeffers, of Ala
bama, jaZzed up the debate by
charging the Standard Steel Tire
company, with which Secretary OF
the Treasury Mellon is said to be
connected, as having robbed the
government. Then he flung at the
Republicans this attack on Mellon:
'"This Mellon is your man, the
prince of profiteers and grafters,
who rides in a limousine and opposes
a bonus for the man who risked his
blood for the flag to make the coun-
try safe for such profiteers as he"
When Representative Luce, Mass
achusetts, spoke against the bonus
as needless burden" he was
Kissed.
The special gag rule enabling ita
packers to put it through without
alteration was called up in the house
after it convened at II o'clock, and
the semblance of a fight was started.
It was, however, more a game with
the cards stacked, for the whole af~
fair had been rehearsed to a nicely;
noses had been counted end the
bonus, was to go through late this
afternoon without real difficulty.
American Legion men. members
Of the Veterans of Foreign Wars,
society women and the idly curious
| watched the play enacted on the
! crowded floor.
Chairman Campbell, Of the rules
committee, presented the rifle. AT
once Representative Garrett, Demo
cratic leader, made the point OF or.
der that the rule was not privileges
in that it was 'violative" Of pro,
vision of the house rules.
Resolution Passes 221-121
The vote on the resolution WAS
| 221 to 121 and was without a roll
call. Previously the house had
adopted a motion for the previous
I question by roll-call vote of ZIG to
1876.
AS the roll-call proceeded there
was more than the usual hubbub on
the floor and those in the crowded
galleries, strangers to congressional
custom, looked down in surprise as
the members milled about, talking
and laughing while the clerk read
the 435 names on the list. Those
voting were forced to shout at the
top of their voices in order to have
their vote heard at the clerks desk.
There was a breaking of party
lines on the vote for the suspension
resolution. Many of the Democrats
who voted in the negative on this
motion were counted upon to sup
port the bonus bill on the final vote
and leaders were confident that more
than the two-thirds majority required
under the rules would be obtained.
Discussion Begins
Chairman FOrdney, of the ways
and means committee, was at once
recognized by Speaker Gillett, Tor
q motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill, whereupon the house
launched into four hours Of discus
sion. Some members wer, givel
only one minute, others two minutes.
others three, but by unanimous con-
sent all had leave to extend their
remarks in the Congressional Record
curing the next ten days.
Quoting a statement by Henry
Ford that if given the Muscle Shoals
project for development under gov
eminent contract, work would be
provided for many former service
men now jobless, Representative
Crisp, Democrat, Georgia, breaking
into the bonus bill discussion, urged
the house military affairs committee
to speed up it's inquiry and make a
recommendation on disposal of the
Alabama properties.