The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-25
BONUS BILL
FIGHT IS ON
IN The HOUSE
Leaders
Are Not in Accord
On Measure a n d
Plan to Pass Bill
Immediately Fails

1lIll1leQldtely Z dl1S
Washington. March 20.-BaIlled
In their desire to get the measure
mp today under Il suspension Of
the rules. Republican house lead
ers in charge Of the compromise
soldiers bonus bill still were de-
;crlnined tonight to put the meas
urc through this week Their en-
pressed intention was to call it up
Thursday. under a suspension Of
The rules if possible: otherwise un-
der Il specia! ruic which probably
would shut out amendments
Hefore the house met today the
| whole situation Was laid before
President Harding at the White
House by committee Of house
! leaders but the executive declined
TO lEakn any recommendation
| Speaker Gillett made known to
ehose in charge OF the bonus leSiS-
| la;;on his decision not TO entertain
Il motion to suspend the rules and
pass the bill This neces$itatcd
further conferences among the
! leaders who refused TO aband on
their plan TO call up the bill with
| the rules suspended so as to shut
off n motion to recommit the bill as
as well as all amendments The
whole question Of procedure was
| 1iSc,1cS.6 ~ =, cnp fcrorr.. :, ftc, 7, a
house had adjourned after 50
| minutes session. Present at this
conference We're members of the
ways and means committee and
the party steering committee as
we'll as other leaders. No final de-
cision on procedure WAS reached
but there WAS at least q tacit agree
mcnt that the bill would come up
Thursday. Representative Mondell
issued this statement when the con-
ference broke UP:
Tomorrow we shall reach de-
| cision possibly by noon as to when
and how the measure will be
+; brought up for consideration. There
will be no party conference.
Speaker Gillett said: Things are
rs unsettled as they We're" adding
that he had not stated that he
| would recognize any one TO pre-
sent a special rule to take the bill
up under d. suspension OF the rules.
The only thing certain is that
tho bill Will come up Thursday
| aid he.
Representative Lineberser Of
California. a former service man.
wanted Il party conference called
to thr.sh out the bonus question
and the speaker WAS represented
as f;.vorinS this procedure. Others
opposed such a plan, however.
arguing that this would open up
the whole bill to change. Mr.. Line
berger finally agreed not to press
for a conference and after further
discussion it was decided to leave
until tomorrow the final decision
by the speaker as to procedure.
TIL" house committee laid the
whole situation before the presi-
| dent. emphasizing the change that
had been made in the bill Since
the presidents last letter to Mr..
| Eordncy suggesting :: sales tax or
poStDoncmcnt Of the legislation.
Til" president was represented as
giving no indication &c way or
ano, her as To his views on the bill
and Us desiring TO DC left free to
BASS Judgment on it when it reach
cd ri" White HouSe. He was
quoted as saying that he had not
had opportunity to study all OF its
provisions as fully rs h" might
wish: also that he thought the re-
! Spon>ibility WAS with congress at
! this time.
.Anotl.rr attack on the bonus bill
WAS made today in minority re-
port from ways and means commit :
tee members Representative cS
kitchin. Democratic leader. and
Old!ic!d Of Arkansas. Crisp OF Gcor-
yi;. Carew oil, New York and Tague
OF Massachusetts all Democrats.
The characterized I'll" certificate
bark loan plan as Il due bill. rain
check. borrow money bonus mode
of payment. and declared that it
N:,S ';ln insult to every world war
veteran and a shameful discrcdlt
to congress and the nation.
Insisting that the bonus be paid
ont OF taxes levied upon the big
incomes Of millionaircs and multi
nlilionaircS anG tho conscience
less ,Nc"SS profits of tho bis mo-
nopoii>tic corporations. I'll" MI
aority charged President Harding
I ard Secretary Mellon boldly OF
fer a bril,e to The world war vet
crl;is to cSrousr III" cause OF the
iacavy power in their efforts to Is
iahi!>h aS IL par, OF Our revcnu"
system tn" vicious policy of Il gen
,..al sales tax.
They ofl'"r Il bonus in consiGcra-
ton OF til" veteran and his tric:l'.
iavortny a sales tax. sud the re-
port. -rh"y Vigorously GSl' Il ho-
nus without Il sales tax. II The,
hr,c th;t the b,a>" boys Will l'c
clnpjcd 10 yi..ld and =. willin: 10
help tin, president and Mr.. Melton
and The money power Ia drive the
first effective wedge und"r th, c>-
t;lhii>hcd policy OF thr income ,;,N.
founded: upon the principle OF