The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-08-29
VETO OF SOLDIER BONUS
MEASURE NOW APPEARS TO Be CERTAIN

country of an impression of decision
and strength on the part OF Mr.. Hard
ing 1t is held that strong, firm veto
message would overcome good deal
of the telling now acknowledged 10 ex-
list throughout the country adverse 10
Harding because of what is held by
those who critic him the excess of
patience, the lack of strong action and
quick decisiveness in his course with
regard to the strikes.
Has Committed Self.
Why this sort of permanent veto,
based on principle may be difficult for
Mr.. Harding lies in the fact that In the
past he has expressed himself as in
favor of the principle of adjusted com
pensation for the soldiers
This expression was made, in the
primary campaign preceding the pTesf
Dental campaign. The expression was
vague but nevertheless it is on the
record. In this respect Harding Is IN
much the same position as several
senators who gave vague asstnt 10
the idea at a time when they had not
thought into it fully and when they
did not realize the amount OF money
| involved.
| L HIS DTluSS US 10 Tue SCSOHu AO4A
which Harding's veto of the bonus
could take. That form would be in
| the nature of postponement. Presl-
dent Harding could refrain from say
| ing anything about the principle Of
the bonus and confine his reasons for
the veto merely to saying that the
present state of the treasury and the
present weight of taxation are such
1 ~ he ~
such sum at the present time
Might Stir Dissatisfaction
The form of veto might or might
not placate the American Legion lead
ers. 1t would certainly be unsatisfac-
tory to those opponents of the bonus
who want the questions settled now
for all time. The third form which
the veto could take under some cir
cumstances would consist merely of
silence.
If the senate program should ar
range itself so as to pass the soldiers
bonus and then recess without wait
ing for any message on it from the
White House this would have the eff
feet OF ending the bonus for the pres
ent session without Harding going on
record on 1t one way or the other,
with congress away, mere abstaining
from action on the part Of the presi-
dent would have the effect Of Veto
This would work out not so much
for Harding's comfort, not so much
to relieve him from the embarrassing
! necessity Of writing a veto message
/ on this trying question as to give re-
: lief to the rather more embarrassed
: senators. To the Republican senators
or at least to those of them who are
5 going to vote for the bonus this course
p would have the agreeable advantage
r of relieving them from the necessity
e of going on record on roll call to
), pass the bonus over the president
n veto.
+ Embarrassing Eituation
: 1t is obvious how embarrassing it
must be to Republican leaders like
J. Lodge and Watson, for example, to
l. vote to pass measure over the veto
J. of a Republican president. If this
} could be avoided it would be very
:, much to the taste of many embar-
: raised republican senators. Those OF
d them who want to give their constitu-
ents a picture in favor of the bonus
l. would be enabled to do so through
r having voted for it in the first instance
e At the same time. they would avoid
2. giving their constituents the picture
p Of voting to pass measure over a
p Republican presidents veto
s This suggested possibility of passing
D the bonus and then taking a recess and
it going back home is hardly within the
e probabilities. Among other things il
t. would include leaving the final adop
If ton of the tariff up in the air until
e after the election.
IS In any event it is certain that the
bonus bill will be vetoed, that there
Is are not enough votes in the senate tc
e. pass it over the presidents veto, and
d that the bonus will not be on the books
If at any time in the immediate future
n This outcome which your correspond
h ent has long expected is now accepted
T. practically universally.
New York Evening Post, Inc.)