The New York herald., 1922-06-18


to believe the Senator from North
June that he would bring the bonus
bill before the Senate in a few days.
Imbued with that idea we sent out
notices TO absent members advising
them to be present next week.
Senator McCumber was not in the
chamber at the time. While he was
on his way TO the lobby Mr.. Borah
made this comment:
There is other business before Con-
gress quite as important if not more
so than this bonus. / think the Sena-
tor from Arizona should notify all
absentees to be present whether the
bonus bill Is up or not"
Coming to his seat Mr.. McCumber
was put on the grill by Senators
Ashurst and Caraway (Ark). Demo-
Gratis. who favor the bonus: Under
wood and King of the same party,
against it. and Borah, Republican,
ditto. Mr.. McCumber reviewed the
bonus legislation from its inception.
He even defended the Presidents posi-
ton of last year in suggesting post
ponement of a bonus because of the
condition OF the Treasury finances
However" he SAID. these condi-
tions no longer exist and there is no
good reason why a bonus bill should
be postponed beyond this Congress,
and it will not il can prevent It,"
He declared he had not violated his
agreement with the Democratic Sena-
tors to bring the bonus bill up ten days
after June s. He virtually admitted.
however. he had entered into an agree
ment with Mr.. Lodge to keep the tariff
bill before the Senate until 1t had been
voted on. With almost the same
breath. however. he denied statements
appearing in the newspapers to this
effect.
Issues UItimatum.
Newspaper forecasts are often
wrong" he said. "You can put little
reliance upon the reports of the met
ropolitan papers, which are opposed
to the bonus bill. Any agreement that
I enter into concerning the legislative
program must specify the bonus bill
will be passed this session of Congress
That Is my ultimatum. which I pro-
pose to stand by to the limit. The
metropolitan newspapers will be safe
in printing in glaring headlines that a
bonus bill will be enacted at this ses-
sion Of Congress. There will be no
adjournment of Congress until the
bonus bill becomes a law"
The North Dakota Senator intimat-
ed that while he had made an agree
ment with Senator Lodge for a Re
publican conference on Monday to de-
eide on the legislative program, he
would oppose any plan that did not
cover the bonus. He argued that the
Republican party and it's candidates
were committed to the passage of a
bonus bill.
IT have heard that statement fire.
quently made" said Senator Borah,
but have never been able to find any
utterance of the President to justify
it. I was member of the resolu-
tions committee in the national con-
vention and we were very careful to
refrain from committing the party to
a bonus. Candidates for office had
no right to commit the party or them
selves to 1t. The party is not respon-
sible for those that did so."
Country Opposes Bonus.
Senator McCumber insisted the
President had recorded himself in
favor OF the bonus in the primary
campaign, which provoked Senator
King to say that since the President
did not carry any primaries his sup
port of the bonus turned out to be
an unpopular move.
II think the general opinion of the
country" he said. sis opposed to the
bonus. I know 1t is more popular to
oppose It than to approve IT, The I'M
preston has gone abroad that the
President is opposed to the bonus, and
he certainly is more popular than tie
Congress. which Is supposed to be
for It,"
you must not judge the popularity
or unpopularity of this measure" re-
torted Mr.. McCumber with asperity.
"by the reports of the metropolitan
newspapers. They are warped, dis
torted and most misleading"
The Idaho Senator declared re could
not see how the bonus advocates
could bank on the President accepting
the McCumber measure when II failed
to meet his chief stipulation that II
must carry provisions to raise the
needed revenue.
Mr.. McCumber insisted that his bill
did meet the requirements set up by
the President. although he admitted
II did not cary any revenue feature.
Senator Underwood then obtained the
attention OF Mr.. McCumber.
II am much interested in this dis.
cussion OF the Presidents attitude"
he said. because think II is Of vital
Importance. I would like to ask the
Senator from North Dakota IL he be.
lieves the President viii sign the pend
ing bill?"
YES" was the emphatic reply of
Mr.. McCumber. II certainly believe
he will"
Senator Borah returned to the at
tack on this point by saying: What
I want to know is whether Senator
Cumbers reply was founded on some
fact or IL 1t was merely speculation on
his part"
"It is not for me to ascertain what
the President will DO" replied Mr.. Nc
Cumber. mopping his brow. but be-
lieve he will sign a bonus bill passed
by Congress. think the bill should
be acted on this session OF Congress"