The New York herald., 1922-03-10
BONUS SEEKERS GET
SETBACK in ORDER
BARRING BANK loan
Decision Of Comptroller
COOls Ardor of Leaders
in Movement.
BILL TO BE REVISED
Fordney, Back To-day, Will
Call Meeting Of Full
Committee.
FARM BLOC is AROUSED
Long Delay OF Defeat in Sen
ate Is Indicated by Atti-
tude of Members.
FARM BLOC Is AROUSED
ny LOUIS sEIBoLD.


Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. c.. March Q.
The declaration of Comptroller OF
the Currency Crissinger that the in
surance certificate loan for financing
the bonus raid on the Treasury and
business of the country is worthless
has not discouraged the raiders.
His positive statement that he would
forbid national banks to accept the
certificates and freeze" their re-
sources for three years merely added
fuel to the fire stirring bonus legis-
lators. who are determined to obey
the orders OF the American Legion
and put the raid through.
There is no question that the Comp
troller's decision has cooled the ardor
of the Republican leaders who as
sisted in the concoction of the scheme
to extort $4,000, ,OO0, 900 out Of the peo-
pie. But it has not compelled any
change of plans for putting a bonus
measure through. Whether it will be
the valueless certificate loan plan or
something else is unimportant
The scheme is to pass "some kind
of bonus bill" and put it in the
statute book to provide the foundation
for other raids to come. The bonus
legislators will vote for any sort of a
measure that will insure them the po-
litical support of the bonus raiders.
The. raiders J. themselves will accept
anything that Congress donates.
They have already consented to
abandonment of the feature of the
five way" plan framed by the Legion
to provide cash payments to ex-ser-
vice men without differentiation or dis
elimination. which was favored by
every man who expected additional
pay for his patriotic services.
Want Bill Made Law.
bonus bill on the statute books. The
bonus propagandists have not de-
ivered themselves to this plan as yet.
but the chances are they will be COM
PEELED to assent to it or get nothing.
They want as much as they can get,
Of course, and will persist in demand
ing the maximum of benefits.
With the vaults of the national
banks shut against the loan certificate
plan, pawnbroking transactions out
lawed. and the majority of the people
90 ha tfxy xyin
bonus on general principles, the chief
concern OF the bonus legislators is TO
rid themselves of the whole business.
They have already begun to urge
modification" of the demands made
by the ex-service men. 10 whom they
attribute the powers of political bosses
They have attempted to make II plain
that a hostile Senate and an un-
friendly White House will make short
work Of the certificate loan plan.
Hence, they argue. the logic OF the
situation points in one direction. This
is TO get any kind of bonus plan
through Congress and onto the statute
books. They are resorting to the
usual tactics of harassed politicians by
promising that amendments satisfac
tory TO the bonus raiders will be read
into the law at the next session. and
that in two or three years the full
benefits demanded by the legion poll
ticians will be Forthcoming.
Having had considerable experience
with Congressional leaders. II can be
said to the credit OF the politicians In
the American Legion that they view
the compromise" suggestions with
merited skepticism. Legion leaders vo-
cally assert they are still confident
"the House win pass bonus bill with
whoop." that the Senate will finally
decide 10 take it. and that the Presi-
dent will be induced to change his
mind"
Must Make Good Their Pledges.
They are actually less confident.
however. than they pretend IN this re-
spect, and are demanding that Mr..
Fordney and his associates who have
promised so much and actually deliv-
cred so little make good their pledges
at once.
Failing in this. the attitude Of the
bonus raiders and propagandists IS
matter OF speculation. The bonus leg
islators believe the eX-service bosses
will have to take what they can get.
Already in the lower house there is
talk OF dropping the certificate loan
plan and of reverting to the sales tax
idea which President Harding sug-
gested as the only feasible plan he
could recommend for financing the
raid.
Mr.. Fordney will come back TO
Washington tomorrow and organize
his committee to consider changes de-
signed to overcome legal obstacles
pointed out by tho Treasury officials.
Tho nct,, ocratfc r1emhars will bc nor