Evening journal., 1922-06-14

dDly lOrty-SlN votes TO get the meas
ure through. OF the sixty Republi-
can Senators not more than thirty
; eight or forty at the outside are in
favor of the bonus.
The position OF Republican Sena-
tors who are opposed TO the scheme
has already destroyed the strategic
advantage sought by the majority
of Democratic Senators, who want
the Republican party to assume full
responsibility for the tax burdens it
would impose on the people of the
country. From present indications
1t will require ALMOST as many Dem
Ocratic as Republican votes to put
through the bonus bill. which the ad-
vocates of the raid are apparently
still determined to do.
The change of sentiment regarding
the bonus in both parties has been
more pronounced in the last week.
The attitude of President Harding,
In which he expressed doubt as to
the wisdom of now enacting bonus
legislation, and his stand against
substitution of the bonus for the tar
in yesterday. have won to his sup
port several Republican Senators
who had not previously reached a
final decision regarding II.
The alignment of this unexpected
support for the Presidents position
has placed the bonus Senators In a
defensive position and put the op-
position into one of commanding in
: fiuence. The bonus advocates have
entirely abandoned their scheme OF
( seeking unanimous consent to ad-
vance their measure. They know It
would be nailed on the spot. Their
hope that the majority OF Republi-
: can Senators would vote TO set the
tariff aside was rather discouraged
by the position assumed by Presi-
dent Harding yesterday
In Embarrassing Position.
Goaded by the officials OF the
American Legion who have sought
to WELD a political club over the
Senators OF both parties Mr.. Nc
Cumber and his bonus associates
have been placed in a very embar-
RAISING position. The optimism which |
favored their predictions regarding |
bonus prospects week or two ago |
has almost completely disappeared. |
The best minds in the bonus group
have not been able to evolve plan
for extricating the bonus bill from
the legislative muddle in which it is
now mired and get it before the
Senate so they can record themselves
in favor OF II. From the looks of
things they will be compelled either
to accept the judgment of the Presi-
dent or allow the Democrats to take
the bonus bill out of their hands.
There is little question that the
Democrats intend doing this very
thing II Mr.. McCumber and his
greatly distressed bonus party con-
ferees do not make some move in
this direction. To permit the bonus
group among the Democrats who ,
are in the majority on that side of
the chamber to take charge of the
raid would place the Republican
bonus Senators in a very awkward
position.
A Democratic move to advance
the bill would naturally deprive Re ,
publican bonus Senators Of the po-
iitical benefits which they insist on
believing can be conferred out of
hand by the officials of the Ameri- ,
can Legion. Therefore It is up to ,
Mr.. McCumber and the other Repub- q
Iican bonus Senators to head of !
heir Democratic colleagues in ma T.
for political advantage. 6
The "gentleman's agreement" ne
rotated between Mr.. McCumber and a
lis Democratic allies who contrib 4
tied votes enough TO report the n
,onus bill from the Finance Com n
nittee was to hold good for week. .
he period OF probation will be up in 7
day or two. Unless Mr.. McCum- n
er soon makes an attempt to move II
he bonus bill from the end of the .,
alendar the Democratic supporters
{ the measure will attempt a flank 4
1ovement toward lining up MEM =
ers of both parties on a test ques- Al
on to which both sides attach su- n,
RENE political Importance. ~
Senator Lodge in his capacity OF r
leader will be appealed -,
, bv Mr.. McCumber and other bonus .,
enators 10 point the way out of the :,
llemma in which they find them =,
lives. Just what position Mr.. Lodge,
ho is threatened with a stif fight NJ,
/, his hands for denomination, may =,
ssume I'm view of the Presidents -
,sition is a matter of conjecture. -,
The Massachusetts Senator Is 'for ~
bonus" but he has plainly indi- 80
tod his opposition to the scheme ~,
% McCumber bill proposes. 1t is
,nsidered doubtful whether ne VIII nc
II in with the plans Of the bonus No
,nators at the risk OF ignoring the -,
lshes of the President. The chances I'll
o he will not care to do so. but 90
I'M urge the bonus Republicans to -
.ouiesce in the Presidents Views -
ID keen the tariff before the Sen ~, a.
a and the bonus where II now IS -
the calendar. ue
nxiety Revealed I'm Debate. -
The anxiety of the bonus Sena- "
re over the complications in which
cir net measure has become In q,
lived was plainly revealed yester- o.
y bv exchanges Of opinion relating ~
II in the tariff debate. Sentor Ken -
ick (Dem.. Wyo). who will be op-
sed for reelection by Leader Mon -.
II OF the House. and an ardent Ss
mus advocate, declared Il should :,
taken up and passed at once. ~
. expressed his complete sympathy ~.
tn its purpose. ios
Senator Sterling (Rep.. s. d. ~,
lded to the distress of Mr.. McCum-
IT by declaring that he would op
,se the bonus bill from the minute -
was taken up. "In the first place" g..
, said. the condition Of the Treas ~.
" is such that any additional bur Se.
IN should not he imposed on IT, a.
lch a burden. of course, would
can that the peoDle would he taxed !