The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-06-14
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.


BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Especial Dispatch to The Reformer)
Copyright 1922.
WASHINGTON. June 14.-The
bonus and the tariff are getting inter
twined. To make way for the one the
progress of the other may be dangerously
retarded. Yet the bonus will win out
it viii be passed by the senate during the
present session of congress whether or
not consideration of the tariff is con-
cluded.
All thought of iamming the bonus
through in a few days is being aban-
doned. Senators who oppose the measure
do not wish to filibuster or otherwise de-
lay the passage, but they do want an
opportunity to tell their constituents why
they are against the proposal. Usually
it takes member of congress more time
to explain why he is fighting something
than why he fayors it. Especially is this
true with a measure such as the bonus
which interests so many thousands of
ex-soldierS. The senator who is planning
to vote against the bonus wants to ex-
plain comprehensively all his reasons
for so voting. There are at least 30
senator's who will vote against the bonus
Nearly every one will make a speech
The addresses viii vary in length. Many
of the arguments viii have to be an
Swered by those sponsoring the bill
Those who favor it will also want to
show their constituents how actively
they championed it. All this takes time
This means that if the tariff gives way
on the calendar to the bonus the latter
may take three or four weeks to pass
through the senate
Should the tariff be Sidetracked for
three or four weeks it will be difficult to
get back the momentum already achieved
through night sessions in the last month.
Relatively little progress. has been made
thus far. The intersection of the bonus
debate will delay final action on the
tariff bill so that congress will be in al
most continuous session.
As for the debate on the bonus there
is talk of a presidential address to the
senate when the measure reaches the
floor of the senate. Mr. Harding waited
| last year until the bill was i'm the senate
and it was finally reported back to the
committee after he made his plea.
Mr. Harding has let it be known a half
| dozen times recently that his attitude to-
ward the bonus has not changed since he
asked the house to drop the matter if
the sales tax couldn't be enacted. The
| house ignored the Presidents wishes and
| the senate had before it a bill substan-
/ TALLY the same as the one adopted by the
| house Close friends of the President in
| the senate. including Jim Watson of
| Indiana. predict that Mr.. Harding will
eventually sign the bonus bill. They
| point out that Mr. Harding has never
| said publicity he would veto the meas
ure and that he hasn't said veto in so
many words to members of congress. The
argument is made on capitol hill that
when Mr.. Harding sees the overwhelm-
ing majority cast for the bonus he will
gracefully bow to the mandate of con-
gress and sign the measure on the ground
that veto would be futile.
But Mr.. Harding has privately ex-
pressed resentment against the idea that
he wiggles and wabbles and is reported
to be getting ready to give a conspicuous
example of consistency by vetoing the
bonus bill. Princeton university gave
Mr. Harding a degree the other day for
his ''quiet courage" in opposing the bonus
and it is considered hardly likely that
at this time he will reverse himself.
though it is amazing to see the absolute
confidence which prevails among Repub-
liean leaders that Mr.. Harding viii have
change of heart and follow their
wishes.
So strongly entrenched has the idea
become of having the President follow
instead of lead congress that capitol hill