The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-24
DELAY ON
MEASURE
PLANNED
Upper House Still Has Hopes
1. of Utilizing interest
on Debts.
By GEORGE r. HOLMES,

n By GEORGE r. HOLMES,
" Intsrastionsl Nsws Service.
The real fight over the soldier
bonus began today.
Passage Of the much-maligned
hi By TIE House and tn transmits
sion to The Senate today is only one
phase Of the intensive battle which
will be fought out between now and
next November.
The new fight has for its primary
object a long delay that will enable
the Administration to perfect other
arrangements for the payment Of
the bonus than are contained in the
certificate plan brought out by the
House Ways and Means Committee.
Hope to Use Debt.
Republican Senatorial leaders have
not by any means abandoned the
project Of making the $11 900. 0O0. 900
foreign indebtedness Of tho United
States pay the adjusted compensa-
ton demanded by world war vet
Grams. Either through interest pay
Irnsnts, or through some scheme Of
foreign bon Issuance. they believe
The nation can discharge its obliga-
lion to the former soldiers and at
The same time refrain from putting
more burdens on the already over
burdened taxpayer. President Har-
ding and certain of his advisers,
vho are frankly opposed to the bill
1t passed the House, are known
look with favor upon a bonus bill
hat could be framed under these
onditions.
Tho official announcement in the
ouse OF Commons that Great Brit
in will pay the United States six
onths interest this fall and there
ter will make interest payments
18th some regularity has given re.
owed hope to Administration lead
10 that ultimately matters can be
b arranged as to let the foreign
Idebtedness carry the bonus load.
In another few months the Ad-
illustrations Debt Funding Com
hission will DO at work. Before
III. 1t Il hoped, the commission
III have got the foreign debt Of
be- United States down to q solid
asis, upon which Treasury officialsI
I'LL be able to count upon certain
ixed payments from abroad. It n
hen that President Harding and
bis Republican friends in the SEN
Lte believe a bonus bill should be
Drawn and passed, and not now,
when conditions are uncertain, when
the Treasury is faced with q $780,
poo 900 deficit this year, and when
business conditions are mono too
good anyway.
Bill Due to Lay Up.
whether the Administrator pol
Icy of delaying matters can be sue
pessfuly put through is problemati-
nj, It was admitted today. While
I is doubtful IL the Senate would
pass the bonus bill as it stands to-
lay, there are nevertheless many
Iincere friends Of the bonus in the
Senate. and it is predicted that 1t
will be only a matter OF days be-
lore these begin agitating for Sena-
korial action.
The policy for the time being.
however, will be to give the bonus
bin a good long rest, while the
Senate disposes Of the balance Of
he conference treaties.
There was q general exodus Of
Mouse members from Washington
oday. following passage OF the bill.
fanny had been held hero for days
Kainst their wills in order to in
ure passage of the measure, but
With 1t out of the way, there was
n progress today a general scram-
lie to get back home, where pri-
bolitical fences need mending.