The Washington times., 1922-08-20
Bonus
PASSAGE SURE
WITHIN A Week
Poll Of Senate Gives Bill 6o
Votes, Enough 70 Win
Over Veto.
By w. BRUCE MacNAMEE.
Universal Service.

By w. BRUCE MacNAMEE.
Universal Service.
The three-year fight for bonus
conducted by the Hearst papers and
the American Legion will occupy
the attention of the Senate the COM
ing week to the exclusion of all else
until disposed of. Col Hanford
MacNider. national commander of
the Legion, made a prediction to
Universal Service yesterday that the
measure will be successfully passed
by September 1.
After a series of conferences with
Senate leaders yesterday Colonel
MacSider called a meeting of legfs-
ladve officers OF the Legion who
have appeared before Congressional
committees to urge passage of the
bill. They informed Coldhel Mac
Nider that a poll of the upper house
shows sixty-nine Senators definitely
committed to the bonus. The addi-
tion of Senators Oddie of Nevada
has been made since the poll was
taken. r
People Favor Sales Tax.
Majority sentiment throughout the
country-likewise was registered in
favor of a sales tax bonus, as indi-
Gated by the. poll taken by the
Hearst newspapers. This huge cam
paign resulted in sending to Con-
gress three petitions, each contain.
ing the signatures Of more than
100000 persons, all Of whom ad-
vocated payment Of a cash bonus to
be raised by sales tax. These
giant petitions, carried to the Capitol
in motor trucks, were received by
tnd nj
Congress. Despite this unmistakable
indication Of popular sentiment. in
fluence brought to bear by big busi-
ness interests was sufficient to
thwart the sales tax plan.
Since the bonus bill was favorably
reported by the Senate Finance Com
mittee on April 20, the Senate has
been considering the tariff. With
final vote on the tariff yesterday the
bonus bill will be up for consideras
.tion tomorrow. Leaders predict its
passage within a week.
. The bill passed the House on
March 23 by a vote of 1913 to 20.
With sixty-nine votes pledged In the
Senate, 1t is sure of speedy passage.
In fact, officers Of the American Le-
gion stated yesterday that their poll
shows sufficient ballots to override
Presidential veto.
Presidents Attitude Firm.
The attitude Of the President to-
ward bonus legislation has been con-
sistent. He has stood firmly for a
bonus to be financed by a sales tax.
On numerous occasions he has re-
interated his original opinion that a
sales tax was the only just and
equitable means Of financing this
lna ha Ht1a
OF the Presidents ton,
Congress has failed to follow his ad
vice.
Proponents OF the present legis-
lation, which has the support Of
the American Legion, say it will
escape the Presidential veto, how
ever. They base their contention
on the fact that at the tune the
President urged a sales tax bonus,
the bill as then framed called for
cash payments aggregating nearly
$4,000, 900, 900. President Harding
declared that the only way to dis.
tribute such a financial burden was
to enact a sales tax that would he
borne by all the people. Since that
time, however, the original -Fordney
bonus plan has been radically modi-
fled. The bill now provides for cash
payments aggregating only $16,000,-
900, and for this reason its sponsors
believe II will meet with the Presi-
dents approval.
AS II now stands. the bill per-
mits the soldier to chose any enc,
but only one, Of the folio wing plans:
1. Adjusted service pay. This
plan Is limited to veterans whose
adjusted service credit is not more
than $50.
2. Adjusted service Insurance Ger.
tificate; a paid-up twenty.year en-
dowment policy. The face value Of
this policy will be 1888 times the
amount that would be received in
cash biased on 81 a day for each
day Of domestic service and s1.25
q day for each day Of overseas
service). The face value Of this
policy would be PAYABLE to the vete.
ran at the end Of twenty years, or,
cational training. The amount thus
II ne dies before the expiration OF
twenty years, the face value would
be paid the beneficiary.
3. Vocational trainig aid of $1.25
a day while taking a course in vo-
3. Vocational training aid Of $1.25
paid would not exceed 140 per cent
Of what would have been paid in
cash.
= 4. Farm or home aid, amounting .
40 per cent of what would have
been paid under option /, IL the
money is used to purchase, improvs
or make payments on an approvc,
farm. city or suburban home.