Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-03-15
BONUS BILL SOON
TO Be PRESENTED
Action on Measure to Await Re.
tSrn Of Speaker CiIlett
From Florida
ONE SMALL CHANGE MADE
by the Associated Press

Washington. March 15.--With but
single change from the form In which
II was approved last week by the Ways
and Means Committee majority. the
compromise Soldiers Bonus Bill will be
ready for formal presentation to the
House within the next twenty four
hours. 1t was approved late yesterday
at meeting of the entire committee.
the vote being 10 70 :. with three
Democrats and two Republicans oppos-
ing the measure.
Indications today were thatJthe com.
rlcted bill would not be presented to
House until tomorrow, rs the committee
report will not be completed and printed
before that time.
The time at which the bill will be
called up will not be determined. Chair
man Fordney said. until the return here
Monday Of Speaker Gillett. who is
guest of President Harding In Florida,
Republican leaders have discussed
plan TO have the mea sure taken up next
Monday under q suspension OF the
rules. with possibly ten hours Of de-
bate. but this plan would be contin.
gent upon the Speaker entertaining n
motion for suspension and passage OF
the bill.
Dispatches from Florida last night
indicated that Mr.. Gillett. who Is with
President IIarding's vacation party.
might not consent to consideration OF
the bill under such plan. as it would
shut off all amendments.
See Two thirds Majority
4 two. thirds majority would be nee.
essary to pass the bill under suspen.
sion of the rules. but proponents still
insist that despite continued orposi.
ton in and out Of Congress, the meas
urc will get more than the two thirds
majority.
There was continued speculation to-
day among House members as TO
whether Speaker Gillett would bring
buck to Washington any expression OF
tn" views of President Harding on the
bill with its bank loan certificate plan.
Chairman Fordney says he does not cx-
pect the President to send any meSsag"
TO him aupplcmenting the Executives
last letter in which ne suggested that
the bonus be paid by sales tax or the
legislation postponed.
Speaker Gillrtt. before his departure
for Florida, told Chairman Fordn'y not
to depend entirely upon suspension
of the rules as means Of getting the
bonus bill before the House.
This was disclosed today BY Mr..
Fordney after his attention had been
called to the dispatches from Palm
Beach. Mr.. Fordney explained that the
bill could be taken up next Tuesday or
later under special ri lc. and added
that he was not opposed TO full and
free discussion on the floor.
To Turn "SunIight" on Bill
II am willing that the sunlight be
turned on the BILL" said the Michigan
member, who. will direct its course in
the House. 81 recall that we put the
first bonus bill through under sus-
pension of the rules and that there was
not a ripple on the water about it,
Speaker Gillett Is expected to spond
several hours here Saturday en- route to
/ Springfield, Mass. where he will speak
oil Sunday before resuming his official
duties. and Mr.. Fordney and other
House leaders expect to confer with him
at that time on the question OF pro-
cedurc.
Another effort to add a sales tax
provision to the bill was made yester-
day, but On amendment by Reprcsen.
tativc Bachrach. Republican. New
Jersey. for n levy OF l per cent on
wholesale transactions was rejected 10
To 5. receiving support only from the
Republican side.
The only change made in the bill by
the entire committee before it was
ordered out would permit banks au-
! thorized to lend money TO veterans on
the adjusted service certificates to re-
discount them for other banks. The
securities. however. would not be re-.
discountabe by the twelve regional
Federal Reserve banks.
! The amendment Of Representative
Andrew. Republican. Massachusetts,.
proposing payment 10 the relatives of
service men who died during the war
or since was not incorporated in the
bill. If the measure were taken up
under a suspension of the rulcs. this or
other amendments could not be offered
on the floor