Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-08-31
SENATE BONUS
BILL AMENDED

I cash TO able-bodied ex-service meI
As perfected" by the bonus Sen
ators of both parties and reported b
the Committee OF the Whole to tn
full Senate the McCumber bill wa
amended in only two respects. on
change made in the bill prepared b.
Mr.. McCumber's Finance Committee
was in the form OF a rider swelling
the cost 10 the Government OF tn
bonus scheme $3.50. 600, 900 TO IRE
claim" swamp and waste lands II
eleven Western and Southern States
The sincere supporters of the Nc
Cumber bill boldly charged that the
reclamation rider was tackled on tc
the bonus bill to decrease itt
chances OF obtaining executive APP
proval.
The other change made in the
McCumber bill ito meet the objec-
tions of the President and Secre-
tary Mellon" was the adoption OF
the Simmons amendment directing
the use OF shadowy payments on
the foreign debts and further au-
thorizing the Treasury TO make up
any deficit from money on hand
mot otherwise appropriated"
Both of these improvements" in
the McCumber bill make 1t abso-
lutely certain that II will be dis
approved by the President. to whom
the sponsors for the McCumber
measure intend TO rush It within
the next week.
The Governments objections to
the reclamation scheme have al
ready been made known. The Sim
mons proposal finds even less favor.
Treasury officials. while declining TO
express publicly their opinion OF it.
pointed out its lmpracticability In
the first place the Treasury has no
money mot otherwise appropriate
ed" Instead It is faced with a de-
felt OF $500. 100000.
Another objection to the Sim
mons proposal Is that outside of
the Senate, there Is no information
by the Government that
any of the foreign nations intend to
begin payment OF their obligations
In the immediate future, with the
PNo|-AhAo tARtHAAtlA VI NAAfaN ID AAAAhs
Regardless OF these considera-
ions. however. the Senatorial sup
,orters OF the McCumber scheme
purpose to put It through '(today IL
,osslble) for reasons that are clear
Y recognized as being purely poll
ical. SO confident are Senators OPP
,Osed to the bonus bill, on moral
IS well as economic grounds, that
he President will veto II. the fight
planned against II has !,
'een called off. These Senators be- |
ieve the sooner the McCumber bill |
cts to the President the better off |
/ will he for the Treasury Depart !
nent and the taxpayers of the coun-
ry.
fcCumber at the Tiller
The seventh day of the debate |
yer the McCumber bill was mainly
evoted to the voting down of
which were regarded
With suspicion by the supporters of
hat measure and hailed with sat
sfaction by Senators who will re-
ord their votes in opposition to il.
Senator McCumber in opposition
o the amendments offered during
he day declared that the bonus bill !
lust be steered Through delicate I
hanDels" in order that the Execu- |
We may have no excuse for vetoing /
!"
II was on this theory that the
mendments were voted down and 1
lie bill turned over to the Sem
-e for general debate. After half a
oxen Senators who have reserved
leir fire express their opinion OF II
vote will be reached. This will
lable Senators anxious to be re-
ected TO record themselves as
orthy of political support of mer-
mary soldiers demanding a bonus.
During the debate the measure
as attacked by several Senators
nd defended by a few. The attack
e force included Senators Borah.
ew, Smooth and Bursum, Repub-
ANS; Williams and Pomerene.
emocrats. The bill was defended
= its author, and Senator Short
dye. Republicans. and Walsh.
of Massachusetts.
One dry comment made by the
cturesque Mississippi Senator in
lying his respects to the support
: OF the bonus scheme was this:
The very first principle of states
anship and the first sentiment Is
have the courage to do openly
hat YOU are going to do" {
Senators Williams. New and Ro-
h Joined in an oral assault on the
mus Senators because of their lack :
courage in not advocating the {
'position OF further taxes on the ,
'ople, which, they declared. was {
e only way the money for the A.,
mus can be raised. j
Before the Committee of the
hole turned the McCumber bill |
'er to the full Senate for final de- q
sion 1t voted down four amend J
ents. The first was the Bursum '
Institute for the McCumber bin 7
'oviding for the payment of a (
'nus on the basis of a so per cent. I
lsh down and the other so per I
mt. three years hence. The vote }
this was % favoring and "a dis \
nting- The distribution of the I
tie developed further eccentricities Z
the Senatorial mind. Some Of the q
snators opposing the bonus voted !
r. it, while the supporters of the t
cCumber measure were generally
yainst It. s
the second amendment disposed
was the Smoot proposal to adopt {
sales tax suggested by President !
arding as the only feasible plan for I
Using the money 20 pay the bonus. a
fter long debate regarding the s
'nstitutionality OF the plan TO pro-