Evening star., 1922-08-31
i. S. IS WELL ABLE
e
TO MEET SOLDIERS
BONUS, SAYSL0DGE
Senator Declares 1t Is eide"
to Talk of Embarrass.
ing Treasury.
CITES AID TO INDUSTRIES
Veterans Have Just Claim on Gov.
ernment, He Declares, De-
Tending Bill.

Declaring that it was idle" to
say that the payments proposed un-
der the soldier bonus bill would EN-
barrass or bankrupt" the Treasury
of the United States, Senator Lodge.
republican leader. today strongly
urged the passage of the bonus bill
in An address in the Senate.
Senator Lodge pointed out that the
payments for the first year under
the pending bill would be only $77.-
100000. and that the entire amount
to be paid was to be disbursed over
a period of forty years. 1t had been
estimated. he said. that the total to
be paid was $3,s45. 900. and he
pointed out that the national debt
in the last three years has been re-
duced by the amount of $4,000, ,000. .00e.
THE government is solvent and can
diers' bonus as Il cam take care Of
the payment of the other debts of the
United States" said Senator Lodge
There seems to be great terror
among financial people that by the
passage Of the bill the credit of the
country will be disturbed. But the
steadily and all of the government
bonds are at or above par, I believe.
/ am not alarmed over the credit OF
the country-nor the possible paraly-
sis of the New York Stock Market
The country can stand these pay
ments to the former soldiers perfectly
well.
Calls Bill just Measure.
Senator Lodge said that he had vot-
ed for appropriations to pay the debts
of the government to the railroads
after they had been returned follow
ing the war. that he had voted for
the cancellation Of war contracts and
the money to settle them. He said II
was very proper to settle these debts.
"As 1 look. over the field" he con-
tinued. apart from the wounded SOL
diers I cannot recall that the living,
sound soldiers have received anything
beyond the insurance which they took
out and paid for themselves and the $50
when they were mustered out"
Senator Lodge said that new situ-
alton had been presented by fhSagpss
eral draft Law. under which the meg
were summoned to the colors by the
He said that a large
number OF men capable of doing mil
Itary service had been exempted be-
cause they were needed in the "es-
sential Industries"
Those men received very large
said Senator Lodge. The
scale of wages was stimulated by the
war. The soldiers, on the other hand.
were limited in their pay TO dollar
q day, though we paid our soldiers
hon
there was no limit on wages paid in
industries during the war. and there
was no limit on the profits OF busi-
ness"
With all pending amendments
agreed to yesterday. final vote on
journment of the Senate today APP
peared to be reasonably certain. All
pending amendments had been dis
posed of and general debate begun
before the recess last night.
AS far as leaders were advised,
only three or four senators plannec
to deliver prepared addresses. but
there was a likelihood of another
general discussion such as featured
each of the seven days the bill has
been under consideration.
Passage Of the measure was re-
whether it would reach the statute
books was conceded by friends and
foes alike to be another question.
They held that this probably would
depend upon President Harding. since
it was regarded as very doubtful that
there could be obtained in the Sem
ate the necessary two-thirds to pass
the bill over an executive veto.
Treanury Hopes for Veto.
1t will be some time, however. be-
fore the measure reaches the White
House. After the Senate vote 1t will
be sent back to the House. which 10
expected to order 1t to conference for
of the differences between
the two houses. After the conferees
complete their work the next step
will be action by the House and Senate
on the conference report. With that
approved the bill would be ready for
the President.
The Treasury apparently is confident
that the President will veto the bill
IL II passes as it now stands. High
officials indicated today that the Prest-y
dent had not changed from his an
nounced intention to disapprove any
bonus legislation which does not
carry with 1t the means Of raising the
revenue needed. and the proposed
measure now before the Senate, the
Treasury officials say. does not meet
Amendment to devote interest on the
foreign debt to, bonus payments IL
regarded at the Treasury as unaccept-
able. since repayment from foreign
governments is considered as pledged
to retirement of liberty bonds.