The New York herald., 1922-03-27
SENATORS TO FIGHT
POLITICS IN BONUS
Continued from First Page.

In the upper house as at the other end
OF the Capitol is a matter OF conjec-
ture. The promoters Of it are conf
dent it will.
This confidence is not based upon
definite knowledge, but rather on hope
as the result of the campaign which
the American Legion and the Veterans
OF Foreign Wars are preparing to con-
duct with vigor along tho same lines
as induced or coerced 333 members OF
the House of Representatives to vote
as desired.
| VIII Run Into Snags.
The bonus propagandists are des-
tined to run into a great many snags
A casual survey of the Senate justifies
this prediction. The Senate is largely
composed of men who take a serious
and sober view of pending legislation.
They are not easily stampeded. few
OF them are not above revising their
original conclusions. The case of Sen
ator Moses IN. H.) furnishes an ex-
ample.
The New Hampshire Senator. in
common with other members OF the
upper house. pledged himself to sup
port bonus legislation. He has since
declared that he is rot prepared to
carry out that promise. chiefly be-
cause of the great injury it would
work TO the Government and existing
business conditions. In his speech to
the Senate he frankly said that he had
promised to vote for bonus bill with
the natural reservation If the condi-
ton of the Treasury and economic
features of the country were favor
able.
| Several other Senators made the
same promise. and presumably with
! Senator Moses is the only member who
has announced a change Of opinion
and given his reasons for doing so.
The promoters of the bonus raid ex-
pressed confidence that all the other
Senators who made such promises will
carry them out regardless of the con-
sequences either to the public Treas
ury or the business in this country.
| The decision of Senator Moses and
that Of a number of other Senators
has undoubtedly been influenced by
the clear cut and convincing state
ments made by Secretary Mellon to
the House Ways and Means Commit
tee. The views of the Secretary and
his analysis Of Government finances
will undoubtedly be received with
greater respect by the Senate than
was true of the House of Representa-
tives.
| The Treasury Secretary accepted an
invitation extended by Chairman Ford
ney of the Ways and Means Commit
/ tee to appear before that committee
and give it the benefit of his opinions
regarding the effect of the certificate
loan plan on the Treasury. The Sec
retary, Comptroller Crissinger and
Gov. Harding OF the Federal Reserve
Board furnished the committee with
a most comprehensive statement
showing that the certificate loan plan
would create condition OF financial
chaos.
The Secretary and other Treasury
officials were heckled by the members
of the committee and their serious
statements were made the subject of
Jest. Within twelve minutes after
the officials had left the room the
Ways and Means Committee ordered
the bill reported to the House of Rep
resentatives for passage.
Predictions I'm House.
| Under the gag" rule preventing
amendments the measure which Sec
retary Mellon declared to be undesir-
able and unavoidable was "jammed'
A. ~ -
the Senate. It's passage in the lower
house was characterized by predic-
tions that the measure would pass the
Senate in response to the same infiu-
ences that had commanded its APP
proval by the former body.
Regardless of these predictions, 1t is
absolutely certain that the bonus bin
will not be railroaded through the Sem
ate. Secretary Mellon. as the repre-
sentative of the President, whose poll
cies he is carrying out. will have the
fullest opportunity to present his views
on any form OF bonus bill that may be
finally framed
The Senate recognized the fact that
the Treasury Secretary will speak for
and with the authority Of the Presi-
dent. Opponents of the bonus bill in
the upper house believe the reasons
which Mr.. Mellon will give in support
Of his opposition to any measure that
does not provide the needed revenues
will have create influence with the
members of that body.
A number Of them, both for and
against bonus legislation at this time.
will want the fullest information he
can provide. Further than this. they
will consult President Harding and
learn from him at first hand his wishes
regarding bonus legislation. Until he
recalls or modifes the views he ex-
pressed In his letter to Chairman
Fordney. many of the Senators will ac-
ccpt as conclusive his opinion that a
sales tax should be adopted or bonus
legislation postponed.
If there is any doubt regarding the
Presidents position in the bonus con-
troversy. Senators will undertake to re-
move IL by obtaining from him n direct
expression of opinion and not credit
vague and indirect predictions, as was
! the case in the House Of Representa-
tives
The first move to be made In the
bonus fight in the Senate will be to
decide on the procedure OF the Finance
Committee. 1t is hardly likely that the
bonus bill will be taken up until the
tariff bill has been reported 10 the Sem
v~t,fa ,.,o., dayalar NJ ..I -