Evening journal., 1922-03-22
BONUS fight
ON TOMORROW
Bill as Agreed on Cannot
Be Amended or Re-
committed
TANNING RULE"
IN ITS FAVOR

wAsHINGTON.tD. d. c.. March 22
The only thing promoters Of the
bonus raid on the public Treasury
and business OF the country would
bet on yesterday was that Il would
pass the House OF Representatives
on Thursday. says Louis seibold IN
a special dispatch 10 the New York
Herald
In Executive and Senaterial cir
cles the certificate loan plan con-
cocted BY the Republican House
leaders 10 win the votes OF bonus
claimants is regarded as dead be-
yond the lower chamber.
Even bonus members torn be-
tween conflicting emotions due 10
the pressure OF the American Legion
on the one hand and adverse expert
opinion supported by popular pro-
tests on the other, have absolutely
no reasons TO justify their vague
predictions that the Senate and Pres
ident Harding ultimately will accept
the bonus bill
The sole concern OF the bonus
promoters In the lower house Is to
record themselves In favor OF the
measure. They neither know and
few OF them actually care what hap
pens 70 It. The fact is that more
than so per cent. OF the Representa-
tives who will vote for the measure
on Thursday care little whether the
bill actually passes that body or Is
rejected so long as the roll call
shows them on the AYE" side.
It Is not impossible, though
scarcely probable, that under the
course OF procedure to be adopted a
sufficient number OF members OF the
House may combine to prevent It
from reaching the Senate.
After much wire pulling and ma
nipulating yesterday Speaker Gillett
finally consented TO the Mondell-
Fordney scheme 20 report a new rule
designating Thursday as suspension
day 10 permit the railroading Of the
bonus measure through after four
hours Of debate.
Under this procedure a two-thirds
majority will be necessary to pass
the bill, no amendments will be per-
mitted. and even motions TO recon-
rait viii be denied. The majority
leaders Of the House are proceeding
on the assumption that at least 290
OF the 435 members will vote for ths
bonus raid They concede maxi
mum OF sixty votes TO the opposi-
ton.
Members Of both parties who ac-
,ept the views OF the President. and
,ficials. Of the Treasury, and who
IRE mindful OF the tremendous pop
lar opposition 20 the bonus scheme
predict that a surprise is in store for
he Republican iesders.
A large number OF Representatives
greatly in excess of the majority'i
estimate are known 10 be reservini
their final decision until the roll call
Whether enough Of them will ignore
The political reasons which influences
the great majority OF members onls
the roll call viii disclose.
The refusal Of the President o,
bulge from his former position thai
sales tax should be adopted TO fin
ance the $4,000. 900 900 bonus raid
or the legislation abandoned un.
doubtediy has aiienated many votes
from the certificate loan plan. Just
how many Is problematical.
Democratic Representatives who
were inclined to favor the bonus also
displayed tendency yesterday tC
revise their first estimate. This
change in sentiment was mainly in
spired by resentment against the
tactics employed by the Republican
leaders In framing the "non-parti-
san" bill without Democratic coop.
Grafton and for the further reason
that the plan to jam the measure
through the House will prevent the
Introduction Of amendments favor
ed BY their leaders.
Another element OF uncertainty in.
jected into the situation was the at
titude Of officials OF the American
Legion and those OF the Veterani