Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-05-02
OPPOSITION TO
BONUS GAINS
CONTINUED From First Page

program or having the Finance Com
mittee frame a bill as soon as the
organizations representing the ex-
service men ambitious to CONNER
cialize their patriotism approve Il.
The bonus bill therefore will be
written by Chairman McCumber
Candidate for reelection) and his
associates on the committee. Just
what kind OF bill II will be is an
other matter. While Mr.. McCumber
and his associates are trying to
make up their minds many Repub-
lican Senators do not hesitate to In
dictate their conversion TO the opin-
ions OF the President and Secretary
Mellon and to make II clear they
will vote against overriding the
Presidential veto even should the
Senate sanction the raid In the nrst
instance.
The strongest single influence
with these Senators In the belief that
greater damage would be wrought
to party interests by reputation OF
the Presidents leadership than In
serving notice on the American
/ Legion that vague political contracts
I made during the Presidential cam
palgn will not be carried out.
The exact position Of the Presi-
dent as now understood by the vast
majority Of the Republican Senators.
divided into three bonus groups, is
that he Is convinced no plan for
financing the bonus enterprise has
been suggested that he consistently
can accept.
One OF the Senators who con-
ferred with him within the last
week is authority for the statement |
that the President refused point
blank TO make any more suggestions |
for the guidance of the bonus sup
porters in the Senate. The Presi-
dent is represented by this Senator
TO have declared with unequivocal
emphasis that he has not changed
his mind regarding the bonus since
he suggested the adoption OF the
sales tax as the most feasible way to
finance II, and did not expect to do
so.
The President, while expressing
ympathy for the political troubles
OF Congress members and conceding
some measure of merit TO the de-
mAnds of ex-service men for
bonus. enumerated many reasons to
show why bonus legislation is I'M
desirable at this time. He pointed
out TO his Senatorial caller that the
Republican party is committed to a
policy OF economy as the surest way
% stabilize economic conditions not
aF,1xr he |
sibly throughout the world.
to Party Pledge I.
He is declared to have asked his ;
Senatorial caller how the party /,
pledge can be kept II the Congress 4,
imposes further burdens OF taxation
on the people who are already pro- r
testing against those collected to pay
the operating expenses :
Of the Government. The Senator
admitted that he did not attempt to
solve the problem. ,
The result OF the recent CONFER j
enoe between the President and
Senators seeking counsel on the
bonus has been to confirm the grow 4
Ing impression that the President 4
does not now look with favor on any .
legislative undertaking to pay a y
bonus to able bodied ex-service men. =
This Interpretation OF the Presi .
iential view is not, however, wholly
correct. The President indicated IN c
lis letter to Chairman Fordney of 7
February 16 that he would sign a r
,onus bill II II were financed with n
sales tax. Every Senator and
party leader with whom he has a
alked since that time knows that
lie is still ready 10 do so. r
The Republican leaders OF the w
House OF Representative >,
rordney, Mondell. Longworth. Mad
len and Fess-did not even do him =.
he courtesy OF submitting the sug- ?,
-estion 10 the House. Their refusal n
o do so was dictated solely by the n
opposition Of mem q
ers afflliated with the agricultural a,
loo 10 such a form OF taxation for n
he bonus or any other purpose. b.
Sentiment the Senate is quite as n
against the sales tax as Ia
was in the lower house, although Al
looms out OF the fog OF confusion a,
4 which the promoters OF the bonus
aid continue 10 grope for a subsi- e.
ute. Up 10 date the sales tax has II
CURED only remotely in the discus II
Ions OF the bonds in the Finance N
Committee. n
The Republican members OF that n
ody are helplessly divided over two 6,
-oposals. Surface indications to- y,
,y pointed to an even more com -
icated snarl over the plans now un- :,
n consideration. Senator Freling- ~
lysen. who has indicated his APP -
oval of the paid up insurance GER -
acate plan, has served notice on .
,nator McCumber that he would ~
II support the other scheme before p'
q committee. namely, to direct the a.
.cretary OF the Treasury to issue Ia
surance certificates with a negoti- Us
lie value to comply with the man re
.te OF the American Legion that
" bonus bill must guarantee money to
lwn on the spot. DC
The Finance Committee will be nc
,nfronted with this situation when ca
meets tomorrow TO make another o.
lal at producing bill that will sat ne
~ the American Legion and other ha
,nus claimants even II It does not ifs
-tisfy anybdy else. Mr.. McCum- tn
IT thinks the committee will sue alb