The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1922-05-11
Of BONUS
BILL IS PUzzL|NG
POLITICIANS WONDERING WHAT
ITS PASSAGE is LIKELY TO
MEAN At The POLLS.
IS NOT A PARTISAN MEASURE
May BE Vetoed by President Harding
unIess Means OF Raising Revenue
Are Provided-Possibility Of Delay
for Tariff Legislation.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK

Washington. - Washington pOliti-
clans. and especially members Of the
house Of representatives and those sen
ators who will come up for reelection
soon, are trying hard to determine
what effect the passage Of an ex-serv-
ice mans bonus bill will have at the
polls next November.
There are men here, Republicans
and Democrats. who say the passage
and the signing Of the bonus bill will
have no effect on the election-that
the thing Is six Of one and half doz-
en- Of the other 50 far as vote attract
Ing or vote repelling Is concerned.
The Republican majority In the sen
ate decided In caucus the other day
| that soldiers bonus bill shall he
presented and sanctioned by the upper
house at this session. There are some
prominent senators Of both sides of
the chamber who will speak so strong
ly In debate against the measure that
II Is said to be possible their argu-
ments may offset any good which the
bonus advocates expect to find In the
voting field next autumn.
The bonus measure probably more
markedly than the navy bill will test
the stick -to-Opinion qualities of Pres
| ident Harding. He does not like the
bonus measure as the house passed II
because 1t left uncertain the means of
raising revenue to meet the pay
ments. Ii Is still believed he will veto
/ l. ~, xxtf IN
II sales tax provision for a raising of
the money. unless there Is some pro-
vision In the tariff measure to do the
same thing. The house Is against the
tariff suggestion.
The senate today does not seem to
be able to give definite opinion as to
the best means Of procedure along
money raising lines. OF course the
upper house Is handicapped In revenue
action because unuer the constitution
all revenue producing legislation must
originate In the house of representa-
tives.
Passage Of Bonus Bill 10 Certain.
II Is certain today. however. that
some kind OF a bonus measure will
pss congress at this session. OF
course. as already has been intimated,
what will happen to 1t when II reaches
the White House remains to be seen.
There are some Republican senators,
mostly fasteners. but with two or
three westerners among them, who are
opposed to the bonus and who will
speak against II even though they
may be induced for party reasons later
to vote for 1t. These senators do not
believe that bonus legislation will help
the Republican cause at the polls. and
there are some Democratic senators
who do not believe that II the Repub-
lican majority should decide not to
pass the bonus bill II would hurt the
party In the election; but Of course,
naturally, the Democrats who hold
this view are not voicing 1t publicly.
The tariff and the bonus are COM
panion measures today In the keep
Ing OF the senate. II Is not yet decided
definitely whether the tariff will be
side-tracked for a week or so 10 order
that the bonus measure may be given
consideration, but II Is intimated that
some Republican senators will not
weep II the tariff bill shall fail to be-
come law at this session Of congress.
Tariff May Be Delayed In Conference.
1t Is believed to be possible that the
tariff may go over until the next SEES
sion. not because the senate will re-
frain from passing the house measure
much amended. but because there Is
a chance that after the bill goes to the
conference committee Of the two
houses to straighten out the differ
ences Of opinion. congress may quit,
and let the bill stay In conference I'M
I'll the next session.
Not by any moulding Of Imagination
or OF thought can the bonus bill be
called a party measure except In 80
far as It Is In legislative form the
child Of representatives OF the Repub-
lican party. Most Of the Democrats
showed Willingness to vote for II
In the form In which II appeared In
the house. and probably will vote for
II In any form that II Is likely to ap-
pear finally In the senate. This takes
some OF the partisan politics out OF
the bill and will give 10 the minority
Democratic party in congress a part
Of the blessing or the blame, which
ever It Is To be. which finally shall be
bestowed by the country.
What the Republicans aud Demo
Gratis In congress would like TO know
definitely Is exactly how all the ex-
service men Of the country stand on
this bonus bill endeavor. Neither par.
ty. seemingly. Is certain that the ma
jority Of ex-seryice men favor the pass
age Of the bill. although every effort
has been made to have II appear that
the men lately OF the camp and Of
the fsld solidly are back Of the legis-
lation.
Plant Hunters Earn Gratitude.
One Of the active officials OF the Az
| ricultural department Is David O.