The New York herald., 1922-07-09
Several Advocates of Meas
ure Abandon 1t After
Borah's Speech.
MAIN PROP is REMOVED
Idaho Senator Exploded For
eign Debt Scheme Of FL
nancing Raid.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
WashInOf0u e. .vuIy a.

Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
Now York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. July =. J
Bonus Senators-those favoring the
$1,000, 100000 raid on the public
treasury as political bait for the ex-
service men--admitted privately to-
day that the outlook was very gloomy.
They now are convinced that Presi-
dent Harding will not approve the
pending McCumber bill because it pro-
vides no means to raise the needed
revenue. Furthermore, they. expect
the President to stand firm in his po-
sition, as set forth in his letter to
Chairman Fordney Of the Ways and
Means Committee. when the special
Senate committee calls at the White
House to ''smoke him out" on the bo-
nus proposition.
In his letter to Chairman Fordney
President Harding stated in clear, sue
cinct terms, that in his opinion. owing
to the condition of the public treasury,
only two courses were possible for bo-
nus legislation: Either to pass bill
providing a sales tax to raise the
: needed funds or postpone indefinitely
the legislation until more prosperous
time.
Leaders in Congress. after a poll OF
the membership, soon became convinced
they could not meet the first require
,nent of the President regarding bonus
legislation. that is, to pass measure
with a sales tax provision.
Senators Revise Views.
Since Senator Borah Gdaho) pointed
out in such convincing terms in his re-
markable speech on Thursday the alarm
ing condition of the Treasury and the
obligations ahead. leading Senator'S,
even some of the strong bonus adyo-
Gates, are veering strongly to the view
point that this is no time to add to
the public burden. Secretly. some OF
them are hoping the President VIII
..stand by his guns" and authorize Sena-
tors Lodge (Aiass), Curtis GSan.) and
Watson Qnd.). when they confer with
him on the bonus issue to announce
in the Senate that he is unalterably OPP
posed to the pending bonus bill and
in favor Of postponement of the legis-
lation for an indefinite period. That
is the position the Senate leaders OF
both political parties expect the Presi-
dent to take.
Should the President urge the Senate
leaders to withdraw the bonus bill from
the calendar, that course will be taken
with more or less alacrity and it will
tend to clear up the atmosphere OF the
eSanate n n great extent.
Even the Democratic Senators In
favor of a bonus admit "the matter
is in the hands of the President" One
of the leading Democrats who favored
a bonus indicated clearly that II the
Republicans decide to dump the bonus
hill he would not be sorry. OF course
some Of the Democratic Senators will
raise a 'howl," but 1t will not be sin
.cere.
Chief Prop Removed.
The fact that Senator Borah exploded
the fallacy that the bonus could be
paid with the interest and principal Of
the foreign war debt at any time and
without causing any drain on the
Treasury, has removed one OF the chief
props from under the Democratic bonus
Senators. Thas has been their pet
argument.
Here are few sample letters received
by Senators indicating how the folks
back home" view the proposed bonus
raid and other questionable appropria-
tions;
From a lawyer in Buffalo: "The
people throughout the country are get
ting very restive at the apparent waste
of the public funds l cannot under
stand the attitude Of some Of our public
servants. They seem to think the money
in the United States Treasury is there
to be squandered as they see fit, cspe-
cially to fix their political fences.
"The proposed bonus for able bodied
ex-service men cannot be explained on
any other grounds. 1t Is worse than the
useless waste of public money for harbor
improvements of inland States"
From farmer In Massachusetts
Something must be done to stop the
wild orgy OF expenditure of public funds
at Washington. This is the time to give
eed to the clarion voice of the people.
20 keep them from dumping the tea into
Boston Harbor."
From a business man in Baltimore
''The people are with you In your fight
against the bonus and other measures,
which can be excused only on the ground
Of political expediency. II we ere
obliged to carry more taxation our backs
will break and our morals will be shot
to pieces"
From lawyer in New York: "I have
great faith In the sober. common sense
OF the American people. but they need
10 be aroused to the dangers confronting
them. Recent discussions In the Senate
disclosing the financial condition of the
nation and the indscriminate piling up
of additional taxation will tend to arouse
the people. who In turn will doubtless
call a halt on their Representatives in
Congress or else they will recall them at
the polls"
From business ma, In Illinois: Two
years ago It was generally agreed the
present form OF taxation was destructive
to the business growth and prosperity
of the country and both political parties
promised to reduce taxation and cut
down expenditures. While the present
Congress was committed to an economy
program, II is guilty Of many wild and
reckless appropriations none of which,
~Cwever. will be so generally and seri-
ously condemned as the proposed bonus
graft to able bodied soldiers"
4 ~ Am