The New York herald., 1922-02-21
30 SENATOR'S FIGHT
Are Strong Enough to
Block Passage Over
a Veto, 1t Is Now
Declared.
HOPE Is PUT IN DELAY
Legion Commander. OH
Other Hand. Wires Har-
ding for Speedy Action.
FIRM AGAINST SALES TAX
Farm Bloc Refuses to Yield
Quest for Money Goes On
Steadily.
FIRM AGAINST SALES TAX
by LOUIS sEIBoLD.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald bureau.
Washington. ID. C.. Feb. 90.
Goaded by the professional pro-
moters of the bonus raid on the Gov
ernment finances and business of the
country, the Congressional supporters
of that scheme to-day resumed their
quest for money to pay the bill.
The Republican members of the
Ways and Means Committee were
assembled by Chairman Fordney.
who has actively assumed leaders ship
OF the bonus raid. They decided to
support the five point" graduated
compensation measure demarded by
the American Legion and other
propagandists engaged in pledging
the votes of men that served in the
world war for those members OF Con.
gress who vote for the bonus raid.
Chagrined over the failure ofrtheir
Congressional supporters to put
through the bonus bill Commander
MacNider of the American Legion
wired 10 President Harding and Mr.
Fordney an impatient demand that
action be taken immediately. In his
telegram to members of Congress
seeking the votes of ex-service men
the legion commander declared he
was speaking for 5000 900 returned
service men representing 2o,000,oo0
of relatives and friends who pre-
sumably will vote as the bonus prop
agandists demand in the coming Con-
gressional elections.
MacNider order Hecded.
The MacNider demand served to
accelerate the activities OF Repre-
sentatives who are afraid of political
reprisals. Mr.. Fordney and his Re
publican associates on the Ways and
Means Committee lost no time ip evil
dencing their desire to comply with
the MacNider order.
After making some changes In the
phraseology of the insurance feature
of the bonus bill the Republican conf
mitteemen adjourned until tenor
row, when they will again put into
use a divining rod or some other
tempt to locate the s5,000,000, 600
which is needed to finance the raid.
A suggestion was made by Demo
cratic committeeman who was ex.
cluded from the Republican meeting
that ouija board be obtained or a
clairvoyant consulted to solve
problem which battles officials of tho
Government and business experts.
Fordncy shows Irritation.
Chairman Fordney repeated his
prediction that bonus bill would be
reported within a week or ten days.
When his attention was called to the
fact that he made the same state
ment three weeks ago the Ways and
Means Chairman displayed some irri-
tation. lie was asked where the
money was TO be raised TO finance
the bonus. He replied: Il don't
know. You can't get anything out OF
me on that"
Majority Leader Mondeli concur-ed
in the statement Of AIR. Fordney that
bonus bill would be passed.
You must remember" he said.
that great many members OF the
House made their campaigns on prom
ises 10 support a bonus bill. They
have got 10 vote for it," When Ee
was asked how the money was TO be
raised Mr.. Mondell replied:
That's for the Ways and Means
Committee 10 decide" which reply. by
the way. gives very comprehensive
description OF the situation.
Tne promptness with which tho
bonus propagandists moved 20 coun-
;eract Tho tremendous wave OF oppo-
sition sweeping over the countrY
naturally tended TO increase tho dis
tress Of Senators and Representative
who at present feel that they must
vote for Il TO keep their campaign
pledges.
Apparently none OF them has any
more idea than the man I'm the moon
where the money Is 20 come from 20
finance II. They have passed the
buck" 20 Mr.. Fordney.
While Mr. Fordney Is thus engaged
the opposition TO the whole bonus raid
Is rapidly crystallizing in speed and