The New York herald., 1922-07-08
SENATORS WILL TRY
TOCOMPEL HARDING
TO KILL BONUS BILL
Committee of Three Ap-
pointed to Place the Mat
ter in His Hands.
WANT A CLEANCUT mo-
Also to Request That He
Agree to Postponing
Subsidy Bill.
NOT BUCK PASSING PLAN
Idea Is to Prove Once and for
All to Legion Politicians
Veto Is Certain.
WANT A CLEANCUT mo-
NOT BUCK PASSING PLAN
BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.

BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.
Special Dispatch to THE NEW YoHK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, d. c.. July 7.
The fate of the Sc. 200, 900, 900 bonus
raid on the public Treasury will be
decided by President Harding.
AS soon as possible after his return
tomorrow from Marion a committee
Of Senatorial leaders will lay the bonus
problem on his lap and earnestly re-
quest him to solve 1. and thereby re-
move the chief irritant and obstacle
to legislation.
This probably will be on Monday
because Senator Lodge. the majority
leader of the upper house, believes
the sooner the Mysteries over the
bonus are removed from the tense
Congressional situation the better 1t
will be for the Republican party and
the country.
The most important party leaders
in the Senate assert that in again re-
questing further elucidation of the
Presidential views on the troublesome
bonus issue, they are not inspired by
any desire to pass the buck" to him.
Their attitude is that the Senator'S
who still attach importance to the po-
litical influence Of the bonus promoters
in the American Legion will continue
to insist that the President will sign
the McCumber bill unless they have
direct and convincing Information to
the contrary.
Although the majority OF the Senate
leaders absolutely are convinced that
the McCumber bill will be vetoed II
sent to the White House, they have
not UP to date been given the au-
thority of the President to say so.
Hence the decision OF the conference
OF Republican Senator's held at the
residence of Mr.. Lodge on Wednesday
night to appeal directly to the Presi-
dent for cleancut statement of his
wishes Immediately on his return.
Other Measures Included.
The Lodge conference was of greater
importance than any previous event
designed to clear up the turmoil and
muddle into which the Administra-
tion's legislative program has been
mired. 1t produced a program which
will be submitted to the President
covering not only the bonus but other
measures that should be acted on or
withdrawn before date for Congress
sional adjournment is fixed.
A committee appointed by the con-
ference to inform the President as to
the legislative situation and request
his assistance to bring order out of
chaos grew out OF the meeting. The
members of it are Senators Lodge
tMass.), Curtis (Kan.) and Watson
,Ind). This committee will inform
the President that the tariff bill will
continue in jeopardy unless some of
the extraneous complications are elm
mated from the legislative situation.
There Is an impression among the
Senators of both parties that the COM
mittee will suggest first OF all that the
President clearly indicate his action
on the McCumber bonus bill and con-
sent to the setting aside of the ship
subsidy measure until after the coming
Congressional elections.
The basis for these recommends
tions Is the conviction that as soon
as the status Of the bonus and ship
subsidy bills has been determined an
agreement can probably be negotiated
with the promoters Of the Democratic
filibuster against the tariff as to the
date OF final action on that vexatious
measure.
The One Uncertainty.
Not one of the Republican Senators
who participated In the Lodge con-
ference the other night entertained the
slightest doubt as to the character of
The reply the President will make re-
garding his views on the bonus. There
is considerable doubt. however. as to
Just how he will view the suggestion
that the ship subsidy bill be set aside
urtil after tho Congressional elections
The only uncertainty that exists in
the Senate regarding the Presidents
bonus views Is whether he will con-
sent to a personal statement or au-
:horizc Senator Lodge to make one
Beyond his letter to Chairman Ford
,.ey, which he has confirmed by other
statements, the President has not di-
rectly communicated his views on the
bonus In an official way to the leaders
OF his party In Congress. He has
ole ar1v Indicated on afyorai ocraeiop
that he would disapprove any measure
;hat did not provide the necessary
revenue to finance the bonus bill un
less the sales tax was adopted. In his
conferences with Senator McCumbcr
and other supporters Of the bonus. the
President made known his objections
to anticipating the use Of money re-
paid by foreign Governments on ac-
count OF war loans.
The reason the President rave IN