The New York herald., 1922-05-25

| the Senate and become a law before the
close OF this session OF Congress. / can
not now say just what the provisions
of this act will be, because they are yet
the subject OF consideration by the Presi-
dent and the members of the Finance
Committee. but am quite sure that they
will involve no additional taxation and
that finally they will be paid by the use
of the bonds of our debtor nations.
THE difficulty with regard TO the en-
actment of bonus legislation Is quite
apparent to ALL The Congress is most
determined to reduce expenses to the
lowest limit and yet on the other hand
every member of that body is anxious to
please the soldier. and within the limits
OF possibility equalize his pay during
his period of service with that or his
brother who remained at home and re-
ceived inflated wages.
"If our Treasury were full and over
flowing no questions would be asked, De-
cause there would be no problem pre-
sented, but with the necessity for re-
duced taxation if business is to be re-
sumed, and with the determination to
run the Government on business prin-
ciples, whatever else happens the ques-
ton presented by the bonus has been
one OF the most difficult to answer.
Pledged to some Form.
"And, that may make candid state
ment of the whole situation. permit me
to say that a largo number OF the
members Of both the Senate and the
House committed themselves to the pay
ment of bonus in the last campaign
! and feel under compulsion TO redeem
the pledges then made. and I feel quite
sure that Notwithstanding the perpiex-
| ing difficulties surrounding the entire
question, such a measure VIII be
passed. and that, when understood. 1t
will meet with the approval OF the
great majority of the people OF the land
| including the benehciaries OF the legis-
lation."
Regarding prohibition. Senator Wat
son said: ."The Volstead act, providing
for the enforcement Of the Eighteenth
Amendment. for which more than s9'ooo'-
| 600 has just been appropriated Tor the
| ensuing year. Regardless OF what one
may think CT national prohibition there
can be no serious difference OF opinion
among patriotic people as to the impor-
tance Of enforcing laws. and especlaly
1 those arising out OF and based on Con-
stitutional amendments.
Contempt of one law breeds con-
teupt of all laws, and contempt OF law
is not a thing that serious minded people
can afford to condone or encourage Inc
law, while 1t Is the law, must be en-
forced. Failure to do so is nullifca-
ton, and notification, carried TO its logi-
cal conclusion, means the utter collapse
of orderly government"
| Platform Approved.
The proposed platform of the party
in Indiana for the 1922 campaign has
been approved by Senator Watson and
! other leaders that have been in con-
ference with him, 1t was said.
AS It will be submitted to the resolu-
tions committee 1t will contain the
planks recommended by the platform
committee, which was appointed by
Lawrence Lyons. State chairman, and
which met in Indianapolis last week.
1t also will contain State administra-
tion planks drawn by present State
officials somewhat different from a
plank which, 1t Is understood. came
from Washington.
1t was learned to-day that a Harding
Administration plank was brought to
Indianapolis by George B. Lockwood
secretary of the Republican National
Committee. AS 1t was when he brought
1t. it contained a direct Endorsement Of
|
ton conference. Whether this plank as
brought by Mr.. Lockwood was used
and changed in the Watson -Beveridge
conferences on platform is not definitely
known. but the current report is that
the plank agreed on in the Watson con-
ferences is less specific than the one
brought from Washington.
The leaders who have been handling
the Harding Administration plank re-
fused to make the text public.
The crux OF this matter Is whether the
work OF the Washington conference, in
cluding the four Power compact the
naval limitation treaty and the other
treaties ratified by the Senate shall be
specifically indorsed in view of the con-
tention by some Of the Beveridge forces
that Endorsement should be general, be.
cause Mr.. Beveridge did not indorse the
Washington conference in his primary
campaign.
''The plank has been worded In a
way open to satisfactory Interpretation
by both Sides" said district chairman
to-day. 'It does not mention the four
Power pact or the naval Limitation
treaty, am informed. but it may be
construed as indorslng these treaties" !"
II read the Harding Administration
plank as 1t came from Washington" said
one of the leaders. 'and 1t was a clean
Endorsement. / understand IT has been
changed since 1t reached Indianapolis,
but / do not know In what respect 1t has
been changed. am told that the ma
tional Administration plank Is an in
dorsement of President Harding and the
J Congress"