The Southern herald., 1922-09-15
ONE FEATURE MAY
DELAY BONUS BILL
REPUBLICANS ARE DETERMINED
TO LAY BONUS BEFORE THE
PRESIDENT.
BARRIER FROM THE FIRST
Conferees in Senate as Firmly ops
posed to Reclamation as House
conferees For lt--VitaIiy Az
fects the West.

Washington.-The reclamation feat
ure of the bonus bill stands out as a
serious stumbling block in the way OF
an early agreement by the house and
senate conferees on that measure,
which republican leaders have deter
mined to pass and lay before the pres
ident as prerequisite to adjournment.
The magnitude Of this matter was to
obtain adjusted compensation for the
veterans reclamation has been an OBJ
stacle that could not be negotiated. A
herculean effort will be necessary
now.
President Wilson and Secretary OF
the Interior Lane Immediately follow
ing the armistice, suggested plan for
reclamation that was pressed during
the winter Of 191S-19. 1t finally died
as result Of the republican filibuster
that held up several appropriation bills
March 4.
When the bonus bill was presented
in the first republican congress a rec
lamation feature was carried. The re-
publicans got into several squabbles
over the matter in their caucuses and
! the bill was killed.
Thereupon the measure was resur-
rected in the 9th congress in virtually
its present form. 1t gave considera'
BILE trouble in the house. Finally in
the senate a provision was incorpor-
ated after much controversy and the
fight between house and senate con-
ferees will center largely around It,
Reports indicate that the republican
conferees of the senate are as firmly
opposed to reclamation as the house
conferees are for 1t.
Politically, it means more to repre-
sentatives than it does to senators.
Most Of the western members have
virtually pledged themselves for REQ
lamation Legislation.
Not only are the states with arid
lands interested, but every other state
where movements have been under
way for reclamation Of arid, cutover OF
swamp lands.
Charges have been made that any
, reclamation legislation will rebound
: to the benefit of land holding com
panies more than to the veterans.
: President Harding has been appeal
: ed to by delegations of westerners al
this year to use his influence in be
half of the Smith-McNary bill. The
: west especially is concerned over 1t in
: asHluch as farmers have contendeC
| that an expansion of dry land develop
, ment was necessary.
. The bonus bill is the only big meas
a ure in the way of adjournment, out
r side, Of course, the coal relief biSs, a
to which little or no controversy is an
9 ticipated in conference.
! There will be one more appropria
8 tion bill to cover deficiencies Tn
J. most important estimate pending i
for funds with which to set in motiol
Il the mixed claims commission, the ere
It alton of which follows the treaty nf
d gotiated with Germany for settlemen
, of alien property claims.
Q Members will find it useless to al
2 tempt to have congress consideS an
l. other measures, The leaders have d.
r cided that the present is not the tim
to take up any controversial legisli
Il ton. They do not want to run tn
" risk of antagonizing any one on tn
L eve of election
It The democrats concluded severe
10 days ago their enegies would be was
70 ed trying 10 have congress accept th
l. offer Of Henry Ford for Muscle Shoal
e The anti-lynching bill is said to /
n sleeping its last sleep in the senat
d with no prospect that it may
aroused.
IT Leaders do not intend to take !
r. either the bill requested by the pref
n dent to enable the federal governmel
Is to apply punishment to those WI
lynch aliens. This was provided for
1t what was known as the KeIlogg bi
IL and was included partly in the an
ie lynching bill
" An attempt is to be made to amei
the corrupt practices act to requi
campaign reports for this election.