Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-06-09
Underwood Predicts
Continued from Page One)

day Senator McCumber said that Sin
the very near future I hope to be
able to lay aside the tariff bill for a
day or SO for the purpose of con-
sidering and passing, if possible, the
compensation BILL"
I'm the soldiers compensation
BILL" he added, 1--WE have nothing
but an American bill. 1 hope we
shall be able to dispose Of it as an
American measure in the same spir-
It that we have voted for appropria-
tions to carry on the war"
Senator Underwood Of Alabama,
the Democratic leader, expressed the
hope that when the bill was called
up it would be by vote Of the SEN
ate and that unanimous consent for
it's consideration would not be re-
questes. He said if it was proposed
to pass the bill at this session it
might as well be considered now as
in July or August.
Il should be very glad" he added
'if the bill went over until after the
elections so TIL; : the American peo-
~ Aiihsoi At iisfNC diI oppoI 10
voice their sentiments on the sub
Ject."
Senator Underwood said he felt
that the bonus bill, if passed will
not only work injury to the American
people, but will in the end work an
injury to the men whom it proposes
to help" He estimated the bill
would cost anywhere from $4,000
100000 to S7,000,000,O0O and said it
vas drawn in such a way that it
would have to be paid for in the
future and thus would become a bur
den upon the ex-soldiers themselves
Il realize so far as I am con-
cerned," he continued. "that any eff
fort on my part to prevent the pas
sage Of this bill will be practically flu
tile. I recognize that what l say
represents on the Democratic side
only few senators and only a few
senators on the Republican side"
Senator McCumber then sought to
send the bill to the Senate calendar
under a unanimous consent agree
ment, made necessary by the parlia-
mentary procedure, but Senator
Williams, an opponent of the meas
ure, objected. Jumping to his feet,
Senator Ashurst, Democrat, Arizona.
said the war profiteers" had been
paid their claims against the govern
ment but that every time it was pro-
posed to compensate the soldiers OBJ
lection was made. Urging Senator
McCumber to make motion to
bring the bill before the Senate, he
shouted that the time had come to
show pluck and grit, courage and
sand"
Senator McCumber explained that
he was stopped from offering any
such motion by the 'gentleman's
agreement" that no controversial
legislation would be called up with
out advance notice being given to
senators.
Senator Robinson, Democrat, Ar
kansas, said he wanted it under
stood that Senator Williams action
did not represent the sentiment on
the Democratic side of the chamber.
Informal canvasses Of each side
have indicated that the bonus legis-
lation has substantial majority in
the Senate but whether the amended
House bill will be approved is prob
lematical In any event a long fight
on the measure is expected and for
that reason some at least of the Re
publican leaders are opposed to call
ing it up until after the tariff bill has
been gotten out Of the way.
Before undertaking to present the
bill to the Senate. Chairman McCum-
Der made public both its text and the
accompanying report from the fin
ance committee. The report esu-
mated that the total cost of the legis-
Iation would be So, S45. $50, 4S1, spread
over a period of 43 years from next
January 1. when the legislation
would become operative. This total
is $3.50, 100000 less than the estimate
under the House bill.