The New York herald., 1922-09-01

HOunceu S0ntIIHent In IdVOr OF SuCii
legislation as proposed in this bill. and
sooner or later Congress win have to
do what the people back home want
them to do in this matter"
Senator Reed (Dem., MOI said that
while the McCumber measure was not
satisfactory to him he would vote
for it.
Let the President veto 1T IL he so
DESIRES" said Senator Reed, because
that is his constitutional right. II he
believes it is a bad bill 1t is his duty
to take that stand. On the other
hand, if we think 1t is the proper kind
of legislation we are duty bound to
vote for 1t and. If necessary, II We
see fit to pass 1t over his Veto"
Senator Jones tRep Wash.) con-
tributed a speech that at least had
the virtue of breyity. 1t was:
Mr.. President, / had intended to
speak briefly on the bill, but l have
come to the conclusion that / can
promote its passage better by voting
than by talking. / therefore content
myself with expressing the hope that
we may vote at once"
Senators Sutherland (Rep., w. Va.}
Heflin (Dem., Ala.) and Trammel
(Dem., Fla) made speeches in favor
of the bin, obviously intended TO cheer
the soldier boys at home who are de-
manding the bonus.
owen Attacks Principle of Bill.
Senator Owen (Dem., Okla), vigor-
ously opposed the principle of the bill.
He said. in part:
"Mr. President. am not able. as l
had hoped, to vote for this bill in the
final form as presented by the ma
jority party of the Senate with no
means provided therein for payment.
| should feel Justified in voting for
imposing taxes for the benefit of our
young men to the extent required to
cure or relieve them of injuries, to
support them when disabled or incap-
able or self-support or in distress, to
instruct them in self-support by vo-
cational instruction and to assist them
in developing homes on the public do
main.
But to tax the American people
from $4,000, 100000 to $1,000, ,O00.0 by
the certificate plan without any dis
elimination whatever as set forth in
this bill and pay out billions for those
not in want, not unemployed and in
fine health does not seem to me wise
or defensble. We should be provident
with the family purse and use its re-
sources for those in need and not
spend our resources for those not in
need, lest we then be compelled to
deny those in, great need.
i do not feel justified as a tenn
porary trustee of the peoples legisla-
tive power to put this tax on my
countrymen without mandate or in
struction from them. My sympathies
are with our young men desiring the
bonus, and I should be glad to sup
port their wishes If the people of
Oklahoma through the Legislature
should express. the wish of the State
to that effect, but / cannot consent to
tax our impoverished and troubled
people any more without knowing that
they wish me to vote this tax upon
them.
THE organization OF our veterans
committed to this plan is said to con-
sist of 25 per cent of our soldiers en-
listed and to represent approximately
per cent. of our people. The men,
bers of the legion are divided in opin-
ion as to its wisdom and they have
advised me both for and against the
bill
THE leaders of the party in power
have determined to pass the bill and
the passage Of the bill is absolutely
sure. That party will take the credit
for the act and l prefer that the Re-
publican party shall take the RESPONSE
bility for the added taxes which will
be required to pay the liability as
sumed by the act"
Senator Watson (Dem., Ga.). who
was the last speaker before the vote
said that he favored the principle OF
the bonus but that he could not bring
himself to support the McCumber bill
because of the adverse effect it would
have on the taxpayers of the country.
The debate ended at o'clock and
the Senate proceeded Immediately to a
roll call. which consumed some time
because of the pairing arrangements
between twenty absent Senators. Sem
ator Watson (Dem., Ga.), who wanted
to vote against the bill. tried to be re-
leased from his pair with Senator
Page (Rep.. Vt.). The rules of the
Senate did not permit this because
Senator Page was also paired as
against the bill with Senator Harris
(Dem.. Ga.). Senator Watson. there
fore, did not vote.
Senator King (Dem.. Utah) was also
unsuccessful in trying to be released
from his pair with Senator Poindexter
(Rep.. Wash.) in order that he might
vote against the bill. Consequently
the Utah Senator did not get an OPP
portunity to vote against the McCum-
ber bill, although his pairing arrange
ment had the same effect.