The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-14
HARDING TIRED
OF BICKER|NC
OVER BONUS
President Nearing Showdown
With Congressional Leaders
Bill Will Never Reach
Statute Books, Belief.
MAY FORCE CONTEST
by MARK Sullivan

publican leaders in congress are near
ing a conclusion. whatever that con-
clusion may turn out to be. This was
shown by an incident that occurred in
connection with the bonus, although
1t does not alter the ultimate fate of
that bill
The present bonus bill will never
reach the statute books, it is now
clear, and has been for more than
week, that either Harding will veto,
or else the bill will die in the senate
IN anticipation of an inevitable veto
But If the bonus situation itself is
MT any nearer solution, the differ
ences between Harding and the Re
publican leaders in congress are daily
more clear. 1t is these differences
that may prove more interesting in
the future than the bonus itself
something came out of Hardings i'm
mediate entourage the other day
which was either an unintended and
spontaneous expression of his real
feeling, or else deliberate step on
his part towards bringing the situa-
lion 10 a head. In one of the Wash
tngton newspapers there was printed
dispatch which read in part as fol-
lows:
VIII Be DiSapproved
Members of the presidents party
seemed convinced that bonus legisla-
tion. IL II eventually goes through
congress on its present basis will be
disapproved at the white house. Little
doubt on this question is entertained
by those who seem to have the presi-
dents confidence
"On leaving Washington at this
time. with the fate of the four-power
treaty In the balance. with soldier
bonus legislation a matter of tighten
ing deadlock between the white house
and the capitol. and nationwide coal
strike threatening, to omit mention
OF minor issues, President Harding
has sought to pass straight to the
house and senate full responsibility
for what is to come.
This was the real purpose of the
executive in temporarily withdrawing
from the situation is well understood
by every member of his official party
in Florida. His friends want 1t
understood that he is not running
away from a fight, or hoping to escape
from any obligation that rests upon
him.
Harding Weary of Bickerine
But it can be stated that he is
weary of the pickering that has pro-
, ceeded from congress-; that he is
weary of legislators dashing daily to
he white house to seek his views,
only to ignore them, and that he is
weary of making pronouncements
that are discounted by the groups
that might be expected to take them
at face value. Those who have talked
these matters over with the president
and reflect what he feels take the
point that he has stated his position
with force and candor upon every
pending issue of any real importance.
"They say that congress knows ex-
actly where he stands and that it is
sauarely up to the house and senate to
take his advice or to disregard it as
the case NAV be.
Laid Down Formula
This is especiallv true of bonus leg
islation, which at the moment is the
most harassing question which the
rarity in mower has to deal. Although
he considered this proposition for
many months. as did practically every-
body else who he'd to face it. and al
though he has regarded his pro-bonus
ledge rs binding upon him. and upon
his marty President Harding has at
lost laid down a formula for dealing
with the question.
Totally disregarding this. the pres
ident's party associates in the house
have ventured nnon policy radically
at variance with that to which he
committed himself. He is willing "a
aDprove a postponement of soldier
compensation legislation if congress
will agree. but if not then he will
approve the lew of a sales tax as
means of raising the money. He
Ioe toI hot hn will
p nothing else
"And yet the house has gone ahead
with a makeshift bill which fails in
all respects to meet his views, the
authors apparently proceeding upon
the assumption that he will aimably
recede when the time comes and take
whatever may be handed to him. He
does not regard this as flattering to
his leadership. and every official ac.
companying him knows that in his
heart he is resentful.'
Unusual Description.
This description of President Hard
ing's personal point of view would DC
unusual under any circumstances. but
the facts that give it extraordinary
emphasis are that it was printed in Z
Washington newspaper. which every
congressman reads, and, most signifi
cant or all, every congressman an a
every person in Washington knew that
on tho same day this dispatch was
sent from Florida, the president was
a guest aboard the house-boat of the
senator who owns the newspaper II
would be hard to imagine circum
stances more adapted to give authen
icity and significance to the dispatch
What is now boiling in congress
about the bonus bill has less to dc
with the fate of that measure thar
with what the Republican leaders viii
do in the way to this clear expression
of the presidents state of mind about
the Republican leaders.
Will Go Ahead.
So far as can be judged today, i
= seems to be the disposition to &c
ahead with the bill anyhow. Some
though not all of the Republican mem
bers of the ways and means commit
tee. feel that they have as much cause
Continued on Page Twelve)