Evening star., 1922-05-10
PRESIDENT LIKELY
T0VET0BONUSB|LL
BY DAVID LAWRENCE,

President Harding will veto the
bonus bill II 1t comes to him in its
present form. which seems certain
now, as the American Legion leaders
to the plan suggested by Senator
Smoot. and in favor of Senator Nc
Cumber's proposals, which are in
line with the House bill.
Should Mr.. Harding veto the meas
ure, the chances are it will. become
the necessary two thirds votes avail
able in the House. and the Senate vote.
while close, probably will be sufficient
to enact the bill. There may be a
change. of course. by the time the bill
comes up for a final vote. following
the veto, but if the President We're
to send such a message tomorrow,
and the vote were to be taken imme-
diately thereafter, the measure would
become law over the veto
Enough members of the Senate have
committed themselves to the bonus by
insure a majority. Realizing that
the real fight may come after the veto.
the proponents OF the bonus are busy
trying to lin" up roy" stre"~th @H~
the initial vote. If they can COM
mt enough members ia S,:..;e
the first time. they will have little
difficulty after the veto. as 1t rarely
happens that votes are changed after
veto message.
The President, nevertheless, will at
tempt to swing public opinion in his
direction with the letter he is writing
finance committee. He will have an
other opportunity when the veto
message is written. Mr.. Harding hopes
that the tide will turn in favor of post
ponement of the bonus payments until
government finances are in better con-
10 yrri1l
in principle. He feels committed to
that because of his campaign pledge.
But he insists that it should wait.
Result Indicated by Canvass.
Canvass of the Senate by members
Of the American Legion shows, how
ever. that the Presidents plea will not
be needed by enough senators to post
pone the bonus. Nineteen have lined
up definitely and answered mo" to the
American Legion's canvass, while fifty
six senators have said Yes" Twenty
one have not been heard from, but out
of these at least eleven are counted
upon to support the McCumber plan.
This would mean more than the neces-
sary two-thirds.
Curiously enough, despite Mr. Hard
Ing s positive statements to Wash
fngton correspondents to the effect
that he hasn't changed his mind on
the bonus question and would soon
ISASSi otC VIEWS 10 members OF ne
Senate. speculation continues as to
whether the chief executive finally
will veto the bill, Some predict that
he will not sign 1t. preferring to let
It become law by the. lapse of ten
days. -"
Others who have heard the Presi-
dent express irritation over the tend
ency In some congressional quarters
to regard hi mas changing with the
winds believe he will give an ex-
ample of steadfastness this time and
stick to his original position if for
no other reason than to stand by Sec
retary Mellon and to impress Con-
gress with the fact that he means
what he says.
Some Presidents have had sufficient
influence with their own parties in
Congress to prevent embarrassing
measures from being brought to vote
by mere threat of veto. The in
clination of republican leaders has
been to force Mr.. Harding to approve
measures which he would just as soon
see shelved for other bills of more
vital Importance to the administra-
tion.
The bonus fight is a test of execu-
tive backbone, but at the same time
it will also be proof Of congressional
insistence.
Copyright. 1927