The Washington times., 1922-07-13
CERTAIN
. Of PASSAGE by .
|. TH|SCONGRESS
President VIII BE Obliged to
Accept MccumbsT Bill. Son.
ators Announce.

President Harding will be obliged
to accept the Mccumber soldier
bonus bill now on the Senate
calendar or have no bonus legislation
at all this session. Administration
Senators announced today.
A'canvass of the Senate made by
Senator Curtis, the Republican whip,
has shown that passage Of the Nc
Cumber bill 10 inevitable, and de-
mand for enactment OF the bill at.
this session has become 30 strong
that Curtis and the other Admins.
tration leaders confess the situation
has gotten beyond their control
Not only will they be unable to
put through measure more In
conformity with the Presidents
views, but they win find II impos-
sible to block passage Of the Nc
Cumber bill practically as It now
stands.
Seek An Appointment.
The bill when passed win include
the Smith -McNary reclamation bin
as a substitute for the land settle
ment feature of the McCumber
measure.
Senators Curtis. Lodge and Wat
son today renewed their efforts to
obtain an appointment with the
President for tomorrow to 60 over
the entire legislative situation. It
was stated that when the commit
tee succeeds in seeing the Prest-
dent. it's members will lay before
him all the facts regarding the
bonus bill and seek to win his ap-
proval of the McCumber MEASURE.
II is understood that the committee
will advise the President that the
bill will be passed whether II 10
agreeable to him or not, because
the tide of sentiment in favor OF
early enactment Of the bill cannot
be stemmed. and that the combtns-
ton Of support among Republicans
and Democrats In too strong TO
prevent its passage.
Want President to Yield.
The President has repeatedly told
his advisers in the Senate that the
only kind of bonus bill acceptable
to him Is one that makes definite
provision for raising the money
with which to pay the bonus. and
that he will not sign any bonus bin
unless II provides that this money
shall be raised by O sales tax. The
Senate leaders would like to pass
a bill drawn in accordance with
these stipulations, but they find the
present situation makes Il impos-
sible Tor them to do so. and they
will ask the President to yield to
the inevitable and accept the Nc
Cunlber bill with the reclamation
amendment.
Not since the recent interview be-
tween the President and Senator
Harry New has the President COM
municated to any member Of the Sen
ate Just what his views regarding th.
McCumber bill are. At that ins~
view the President declared he stood
ftust where he always stood. IN favcT
of q sales tax measure to raise the
fund for the bonus.
There is no reason to suspect that
the Presidents views have undergone
change since his talk with Senator
New, and for this reason none Of the
Administration Senators was able =
hazard a guess as to what the Pres
dent may say II told that 1t will be
the McCumber bonus bill or none.
May Veto Measure.
Should the President remain firm
in his opposition to a bonus bill that
doeN not provide how the money shall
be raised, he will still have recourse
to the veto IL the McCumber bill
passes. In that event, Senate lead.
ers believe there would be sufficient
votes to pass It over the veto. and
that the House would follow the same
course.
None OF the sponsors Of the No
Cumber bin has the slightest noAaos
as to where the bonus money Ia %
come from, the general opinion being
that the Treasury win find the money
somewhere" The dilatory progress
made by the Foreign Debt CommiS
sion. which has accomplished prac-
tically nothing since 1t was created.
has dissipated the hope that funds
will come from the foreign debt In
time to make the bonus payments
when they fall due. The question OF
how to get the money Is not worry.
ing the advocates Of the McCumber
bill, however, in their determination
| tn nut the mea sured through speedily