Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-05-02

coed. In this opinion he is sup
ported by four Associates-La Fol
lette, Watson, Curtis and Sutherland
He is not supported in It by sena-
tors Calder. Frelinghuysen, billing
ham and Smoot. The attitude OF
Senator Mclean OF Connecticut, the
tenth Republican member OF the
committee, lie uncertain, although the
| impression prevails that he will nm
ally side with the opposition.
Mr.. MoCumber, whose political
needs are very disturbing in his home
State OF North Dakota, is sure the
bill passed by the House will be re-
ported by his committee with modi-
ncations; also that such a bill will
be forthcoming within a week. II
80 It will be because the other mem
bers OF the committee want to un-
load the responsibility OF the bonus
raid on the Senate, or at least get 1t
of their own hands.
The hardness of the American
Legion in Indicating its readiness 10
trade votes for Senators for cash
bonus votes Is proving most disturb
ing to the bonus Senators. The
legion is not displaying any great
amount OF ENTHUSIASM for Mr.. Nc
Cumber's scheme TO issue certificates
with a loan value OF rs per cent. the
first year instead OF so per cent as
provided in the House bill.
There is little question that the
bonus claimants will finally agree TO
26 per cent, or 10. or 8 in the end.
cash Is better than none. II By any
improbable chance the legion should
disapprove OF the scheme to reduce
further the amount of cash to be I'm
mediately paid there is no telling Just
what grotesque proposition may
come out OF the Finance Committee.
The only thought OF the bonus
Senators is to please the American
Legion. Senator Watson (Rep.
Ind frankly said so yesterday
The way he put twas this;
after all. this legislation is being
enacted to please the American
Legion; there is no doubt about that.
Therefore, we must frame a bill
which will meet It's approval, else
there Is no Justification for our act.
It is significant that Senator wat
son has consistently described the
true state of affairs regarding the
bonus. Most of his associates nave
not done 80. The Indiana senator
still believes a bonus bill Will De
agreed on in the committee and put |
through the Senate. But ne also
helieves It's chances for getting
through the latter if'dy will depend
largely on the decision OF the Presl-
dent when It is submitted 10 MN
as soon as completed.
All the maneuvering today re
rerding the bonus entirely ignored
the chief objections pointed out by
the President and Secretary Mellon.
Most OF the proposals contemplate
the use OF the foreign debt TO finance
the undertaking. Few, II any, OF the
know anything about the
Of the negotiations looking
10 the liquidation Of these obiga-
lions although most OF them assert
that vast sums will be available for
the bonus within few weeks.
The fact is that even the prelimi-
,aries Of such negotiation have not
been discussed by the recently Gre
ated funding commission. Another
TACT is that existing laws direct the
,se of the foreign repayments to
-etire Victory and Liberty bonds
A meeting OF the finance commit
ee had been called to tackle the
,onus problem. The reason It was
Tot held was twofold. The Amert-
an Legion had not sent along its
} X. TO the McCumber proposal for
negotiable insurance sratuities. nor
lad any OF the Senatorial experts
Igured out a course Of procedure
hat would involve the less disagree
hIa copseouences.