The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1922-03-21
House NJ ust
Assn me the
Responsibility
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Copyright BY The 1ntsllizsuo'r)

Washington, March 20. President
Harding has. passed back to congress
full responsibility for enacting soldier
bonus bill The efforts OF house Repub-
leans TO secure his endorsement OF the
Fordney bill have failed. The house
will 90 ahead and pass he bill. The
senate may or may not adopt It. In
any event the president indicated today
clearly that he would reserve decision
until congress had acted.
This IS the upshot OF the conference
held at the White House between the
president and Chairman Fordney OF the
house ways and means committee. Chair
man Campbell OF the rules committee,
Representative Longworth and other
house leaders who have been insisting
on the passage OF a bonus bin, despite
the advise OF Secretary Mellon Of the
treasury department and others IN the
executive branch Of the government. .
Sales Tax Favored
Mr.. Harding's views on the question
nave been expressed again and again
and even before the leaders came to the
White House Il was made plain that
The president favored either q sales tax
as a means Of raising the revenue for
the question altogether. The house has
discarded the sales TAX proposal and
has ignored the suggestion OF postpone
ment.
In view OF Mr. HardinS's announced
position Il was necessary TO so to the
White House and enlist the neutrality
OF Mr.. Harding while the house leaders
pushed the bill through. For It was
vidnt that many members OF the house
wculd decline to act until they knew de-
fn!tely whether the president favored
he bonus IN the F'ordney bill. Already
much opposition has been stirred up
through the use OF the presidents name
TO reconcile the desires OF the house
leaders for some kind OF legislation. and
the demands of an 'nSurgent Republican
group that the presidents views be OBJ
.asned and needed. the plan OF holding
conference was evolved. The purpose OF
the conference was to throw the Ques-
tton OF a presidential veto M IN the
Mr. and leave the house free to act on
It's own responsibility.
No word Of Approval
The president listened to the explain
atoms made OF the new Fordney bill
which has been changed since he leS
washirgtop. and while Mr.. Harding
offered no objection. at the same time
he lid not utter word OF approval. He
simply insisted that congress Tpst as
sumo full responsibility for the lcC:s-
,at!on without any recommendation
from him. Asked 70 interpret that state
ment. some OF tho presidents callers
pointed out that II might mean presi-
Dental signature ultimately on the same
ground&-that congress had by major
lty vote expressed ITSELF and that the
4 \ dnI
% follow the will oE congress. Others
contended. however. that the president
was free to veto the measure and COM
pei congress TO enact the law by q two
thirds vote Of both houses-somethtnS
which admittedly IS doubtful for the pro
ponents OF the bonus will have diff
Guilty mastering a simple majority IN the
senate.
Veto Uncertain
II Is precisely this vagueness which
holps the house leaders. The certainty
OF a presidential veto has been removed
Cor the moment. The executive has de-
cl!ned to recommend the pending bin or
TO take any part in the matter. The
house memhe-s all of whom come up for
reelection this fall wish however TO eX-
press themselves on the bonus issue.
The vote will help them to that extent
no matter whether the senate or the
president block the legislation ultimate
~. Tho president incidentally feels that
the text OF the statement issued after
the conference indicats eclearly that he
himself has not changed his position.
So the house leaders went away happy
and bent on passing the bill. The
president will not feel offended because
the house exercises It's right OF express
sion. Secretary Mellon knows through
the conference he held on Sunday with
NJ. Harding that the president Is stand
ing squarely behind him. SO all Is quiet
again on the Potomac and the chances
OF a soldier bonus bill becoming law
are as remote as ever.