The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-22
BONUS ISSUE
LAID TO REST
FOR ALL Time
Measure Can Never Again
Come as Near Winning in
Congress = Borah Crystal
lized Public Sentiment.
HARDING MOVE ASTUTE
BY MARK SULLIVAN

ment of the leaders of the eX-SoIdlerS
on the veto of the bonus bill is that
the fight has Just begun. But as soon
as calmer mood comes they will
think differently.
The soldiers bonus is a settled is
sue, not only for the present session
of congress, but forever 1t will never
again come so near to winning in any
future congress as it did in this. 1t
was passed by the house over the
presidents veto.
In every future congress the num-
ber of senator's under the obligation
of a promise to vote for it will be
smaller than in the present session,
and the number of senators who will
feel free to oppose it will be larger.
Furthermore, Harding's veto is based
not merely on the present state of the
treasury, but on principle.
Reasons Viii Remain
Every reason that the president
gave for his veto will continue to ex-
ist and will even exist in a stronger
form during the remainder of his
term. So long as Mr.. Harding re-
mains at the White House. whether it
is for the two and a half years re-
naming of his first term or for six
and a half years, if he should have d
second term, he can be expected to
veto any bonus measure that comes
up For that matter, the measure is
not likely, to be brought up again in
good faith Only in case there should
be a congress politically hostile to the
president and with a purpose to en-
barrass him is the bonus measure
likely to be brought up in the future.
The reasons that make the measure
impossible of success will in time be-
come so apparent that the agitation
for the bonus will never again have as
large popular backing as it had on
this occasion.
Treasury Menaced.
As final reason why the bonus
nroposal cannot be successful at any
forseeable time in the future it can be
said that however unable the treasury
is to stand the strain this year it will
be still less able at any time for sew
eral years TO come.
The treasury already faces the prob
lem of a revenue which is 600,000,000
short of enough to pay the appropria-
tions. 1t may seem sensational to say
so but it is fact that even disregard
ing the bonus, taxes in this country
are likely to become higher before they
become lower.
Debts Forlorn Hope.
The Die Hard advocates of the
bonus may continue TO hope that mon
ey received from our European debtors
will make the payment of the bonus
possible. That however, will not be.
A part of those debts will never be
Of he
paid for at least 25 years. Such in
stallments of annual interest as we
may receive will not be enough to take
care of even a fraction of bonus and
in any event whatever we receive
from this source will be more than
needed to meet the ordinary expenses
of the government.
Pensions Coming.
There will be of course in time pen
sions for wounded soldiers and pen
sions for ex-soldiers, who have become
INDECENT. But any universal payment
based on the theory of adjusted com
pensation like the present bill and Civ
en- to every soldier who was drafted
regardless of his needs is out of the
way forever.
1t is. an important event and 1t came
about through a dramatically narrow
margin. President Harding is given
credit not only for having been firm
on principle but also for having been
astute politically. If this present vote
in the senate had come last March or
April or indeed, if it had come at any
time preceding August, the presidents
veto would have been over-ridden and
the bonus would have been adopted.
Time Helped Foes
There was a time, some six or seven
months ago, when only eight men in
the senate could be counted on to op-
pose the bonus. Mr.. Harding's course
gave to his side of the controversy the
benefit of a constantly rising state of
public feeling adverse to the bonus.
Also more directly if the final vote had
been taken before instead of after the
various primary elections of the sum
mer it is altogether probable that some
senators who are now able to vote
against it would have found it more
difficult to do so before the primaries
took place.
One some times gets the impression
that Harding has among his maxims
the one that says Time and | against
any other combination" Some times
the president seems to less patient per.
work of the partnership on time
But he has much faith in ii and has on
occasions demonstrated that his faith
is well founded.
President at His Best
The veto message was Harding al
his best. 1t combined his familiar
qualities of patient and tolerant rea
sonableness with complete firmness
In his veto he undoubtedly has had
the support of the best and the larg
est number of his advisers.
Here in Washington we have under
stood that out of the 10 members Of
the cabinet only one was in favor OF
the bonus and one other non-commit
tai and eight against it.
The bonus message has dozen an
giles from which it must excite admira
ton. even on the part of many wht
do not agree with it. His giving i
the tone of an address TO congres:
was both good politics and sound il
!. principle.
/ 1t is a fact, as Harding implies
I throughout the message. that the bo
| nus PROPOSAL arose net out of any so
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