The New York herald., 1922-03-12
New Federal Board
Would Have Power to
Run Cost Into Many
Billion Dollars.
BURDEN ON STATES
Measure Framed to Compel
Cooperation in Recla-
nation of Lands.
FARM BLOC is FESTIVE
Sales Tax Adherents VIII
Make New Attempt to Sub
stitute Their Plan.
FARM BLOC Is FESTIVE
by LOUIS sEIBoLD.

BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW Yoax HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. March IL.
The bonus raid on the public Treas
ury and business of the country is
facing revolt in the House of Rep
resentatives, which up to date has
been the home of its friends.
The insurance certificate loan plan
concocted by the Republican mem.
bers of the Ways and Means Com.
mittee is being assailed from several
unexpected quarters. Aside from
Chairman Fordney and Republican
Leader Mondell, who still think Presi-
dent Harding can be induced to
change his mind regarding the bonus
raid, defenders Of it have in fact be.
gun to apologize for it's many defects.
The Ways and Means Committee
chairman and the majority leader
continue to assert that the $1,000.
100000 insurance certificate loan
scheme will be favorably report ts
the House with few minor ar md
ments" on Monday and railroaaad
through that body with little Il any
opposition.
Members who have favored ianus
legislation are beginning to ex
doubt as to the infallibility O the
two bonus spokesmen.
Farm Bloc Is Restive.
To supplement the troubles 4, he
harassed Ways and Means cha rr,au
and the men who support his 6etes-
mination to ignore the advice II the
President, Secretary Mellon, the over
whelming adverse sentiment in the
Senate and the protests of all classes
of people, the farm bloc became rest
i've to-day and threatened to kick
over the traces"
Supporters of the sales tax, which
the farm bloc opposes. also became
active. They are arming themselves
for another attempt to substitute this
scheme for the insurance certificate
loan plan.
.
the loosely drawn and unworkabIe
measure framed by the Ways and
Means Republicans has further added
, to the confusion that prevails on the
House side OF the Capitol where fear,
impulse and emotion are the ruling in
fluences.
! An analysis OF the land settlement
J feature Of the five way" plan formed
by the American Legion and adopted
out OF hand by the Ways and Means
Republicans has uncovered a scheme
which in the opinion of critics of the
bill is reminiscent Of old time grabs"
Ground for Party Machine.
II the conclusions OF the experts
who have put the acid test on the
land settlement" feature is correct.
the Republican party would be able to
build up a powerful political machine
for partisan advantages.
In addition, the Government would
be compelled TO go into the real estate
business on tremendous scale, build
towns, develop irrigation schemes, sys-
TENS OF public roads and become in
volved in so-called reclamation prof.
ects that have hitherto been frowned
upon.
Just how much money the land set
tiement of the insurance certificate
loan scheme would cost the people OF
the country before its terms could be
carried out is a matter Of speculation,
Estimates justify the opinion OF ex-
perienced interpreters OF Legislative
antiquities that the statements re-
certify made BY Senator Borah regard
ing the whole bonus project are cor
rect.
The Idaho Senator in a recent speech
attacking the bonus raid on general
principles predicted that before this
country got through with financing the
. bonus projects contained in tho -nvd
way" plan which the Fordney commit.
tee has introduced. the cost would run
into untold billions--perhaps 500, ,000.s
900, 900 or even $4,000, 100000.
most vicious" Feature.
The land settlement" feature, which
Is to beco.sc operative on January 4
next and not on maturity Of the insrS-
ance certificates to be issued ex-serv-
ice men, is pronounced BY member
who admitted that he supported ii. as
'one of the most vicious attempts ~
raid the country ever undertaken ia
Congress-"
The basis of his criticism was the
protest made by the Government Of -