The Washington times., 1922-09-12
IS
MADE ONF|NAL
.DRAF 7 Of BONUS
House and Senate Leaders
Concur on Form to Be
Sent to President.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
international News Service.

international News Service.
The adjusted compensation bill,
providing a bonus for Americas
10000 world war veterans, was
brought one step nearer enactment
today, when House and Senate
finance leaders signed a compro-
mise agreement, on the form in
which the measure will go to the
White House for Presidential &C.
ton.
In its revised form and stripped
of all extraneous matter, Admins.
tration leaders hoped the bill would
meet President Harding's approval.
The principal changes agreed upon,
il was learned, were made to con
form the aneasure, as nearly ~ pos
sible to the kind Of legislation de-
sired by the President. This in.
cluded elimination Of the McNary
reclamation amendment and the
simmons plan for using foreign
debt funds in paying the bonus.
sponsors Optimistic.
While some Senators, among them
Senator Simmons OF North Caro-.
lima, the Democratic finance leader,
continued to predict a Presidential
veto, there was a strong feeling OF
optimism among bonus advocates.
Senator McCumber Rep) OF North
Dakota and Senator Walsh DEM
of Massachusetts, who led the
bonus fight in the Senate. were con
fident it would be approved hy the
President and be enacted into law.
The President has not COM
af An
bonus in It's present form, 1t was
pointed out, but has indicated TO
it's advocates that he would con,
slider It carefully before reaching
a decision. For this reason. they
means certain.
The compromise agreement of the
bonus conferees was ready to be
submitted to the House today. but
with the tariff in the way. it, was
expected to be withheld until later
in the week. There was a posi-.
bility 1t might be acted upon Thurs
day or Friday by the House. but
its immediate future depends en-
tirely upon the speed in which the
tariff report is handled. Once
adopted by the House. the report
will be returned to the Senate for
It's last legislative step. Admins
tration leaders hope to jap II
through the Senate, whether the
tariff is in debate or not. II this
sch edule is maintained. the bill will
be on its way to the White House
early next week.
Five Forms Provided.
In its present form. the bill pro
vides 81 a day for home service
and s1.25 a day for foreign service
for the time spent by the veteran
in service. in excess of sixty days
between April 16. 1917, and July l,
1919. Five forms Of payment are
provided. These include cash. just
for those getting $50, a certificat'
plan payable in twenty years
which would give the veterans S.0l'
vocational training aid with pay
allowances, farm aid equal % l2i
per cent the face value OF hi!
bonus and a land settlement plar
with the same total value.
One OF the changes enacted II
conference was the placing Of /;
five-year limitation on the time II
which the veteran can. choose tn,
form OF compensation desired.
sliding scale in the farm-aid plaf
was also eliminated with the ~
per cent total substituted.
The bill now carries no methot
Of providing funds for payment o
the bonus. Under existing law
Congress would be asked each yea
to appropriate a sufficient sum I,
meet the years payments. Thil
would amount to $4,000, 900 tn,
first year, $4,000, 900 the secont
year and slightly less each sue
ceeding year, according to bonu,
leaders. The appropriation Of thes,
sums annually, the advocates con
tended. would work no hardship
on the country and would not re
suit In heavier taxes.