The New York herald., 1922-07-13
Bonus Situation Tangled
Up With the Tariff and
Ship Subsidy. Z
DEMOCRATS OUT OF HAND
Fear Expressed That They
Will Break Faith and
Vote on Bonus.
BY LOUIS sE1BoLD.

I
Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau
Washington. d. C.. July 1e.
The Importance attached by Repub-
lican Senator's to the leadership of
President Harding was established by
their apathetic interest in the tariff
debate to-day.
With the mercury above the century
mark few of the Senator's gave heed
to the oral performances of their
wilted associates who attacked or de-
Tended the measure. Much greater
interest was manifested in the an
nouncement that Senator Lodge would
call on the President tomorrow to
arrange conference designed to put
an end to the tieup in the Senate over
the Administration program.
1t is expected this conference will
be on Friday or Saturday or as soon
thereafter as the critical conditions re-
sulting from the coal and railroad
strikes permit. The program which
Senator Lodge and mis- associates will
submit to the President has been def
nitely completed.
The crux Of it lies in the muddle
over the $4,000, 100000 bon,s raid and
the unexpected resistance which has
developed to the merchant marine bill.
Until the attitude of the President
toward these most vexatious OF legis-
lative problems has been definitely
determined, the filibuster over the
tariff will continue without end Re-
publican leaders in the Senate do not
try to conceal their helplessness in
the present situation.
Flying Flag of Piracy.
An expanding conflict of views over
the tariff resulting from the efforts Of
the Western agriculturists to ignore
the general interests of the country
for individual benefits is bringing
about situation which is much more
disturbing to the subordinate leaders
of the Presidents party than they care
to admit and which is intensely ag-
sravated by the insistence of bonus
Senators that their pet measure be
put through.
Independence of view amounting to
outright insurgency in some instances
against numerous features of the
tariff measure is regarded with alarm
by some of the Republican leaders.
Prodded by politicians in the Ameri-
can Legion, Republican Senators who
disapprove Of the tariff bill are be-
N he ell x,,u
bones. While only three or four Re-
publican Senator's coming within this
category have declared their purpose
to vote against the tariff measure,
others are not very far from it.
AS long as the bonus and ship SUBJ
sidy bills menace and complicate the
tariff situation there is growing dan
ger of the Democratic and Republican
combination which ultimately may
cause the withdrawal of the make
shift revenue measure bearing the
name of Mr. McCumber but which
has become a veritable Joseph's coat
through revision on the floor.
Thirty-three Of the thirty-six Demo-
cratic Senators are solidly opposed to
the McCumber bill, but a ma jority of
tntili = III idNOi Ol a JULIUS DtCduSe
of the partisan advantages they see in
forcing the Republican majority to
further burden the country with tax
alton. Four or perhaps five Repub-
lican Senator's have declared their op-
position to the tariff measures on gem
eral principles, but are urging i'm
mediate consideration of the bonus for
political reasons important to them
selves.
Denounce the Tariff.
Half dozen other Republican Sena-
tors have denounced the tariff bill un-
mercifully and under the stimulus of
popular disapproval are rapidly adj
vancing to open rebellion. Repub-
lican Senate leaders who will appeal
to the President to straighten the
complications which resist their own
efforts are really apprehensive over
the possibility of a very tight At" In
the tariff vote. They know only too
well IL all of the Republican "apos-
n