The Washington herald., 1922-06-09
|McC Cumber Reports Meas
ure, After Clash With
Williams.
DEMOCRATS BOLT
LEADERS STAND
Robinson Will Lead Mi
nority Party in Fight
For Passage.

The soldier bonus bill. buf1eted
about in the chambers and COM
nittes rooms of Congress for
months. is now before the Senate.
with chances Of passage some time
before next year.
After being temporarily blocked
earlier in the day. the MeCunnber
measure. providing various compen-
sations for war veterans but with
no definite provisions for financing
same. was reported favorably out
of the Senate Finance Committee
late yesterday. Senator McCumber,
Chairman Of the Finance Commit
tee apd in charge of the bill. urged
speedy action. He wishes the meas
ure to be taken up within a few
days, but the anti-bonus group
which includes those opposed to this
specific bill. though not necessarily
to any bonus-wish to delay con-
sideration until after fall elections
1t would seem. however, that the
majority will have its way and set
aside the tariff bill for considera-
tion of the bonus measure soon. II
this is finally thought advisable.
Five Plans offered.
Five different means of aid are
afforded veterans in provisions OF
the bill:
l. Adjusted service pay. limited
to service credit of not more than
$50
2. Adjusted service certificate.
providing paid-up insurance. COL
lectible at the end of twenty years
Banks may loan up to so per cent
OF the full value on this certincate.
a. Vocational training aid. at the
expense of the government. 10 an
amount equal to adjusted service
credit. plus 40 per cent. at the
rate of sl.75 4 day.
a Farm or home aid. providing
receipt from government TO make
ir,1roveuneuts on home. or payment
on home or farm. amount equal 10
adjusted service credit. plus rs per
cent.
Land settlement aid which
gives a veteran preference on open
ing Of public or Indian lands, and
on all reclamation projects.
The bill differs in many respects
from the one passed by the House.
McCumber. in framing 1t. attempted
to satisfy all the criticisms Of the
House measure and those objections
IL encountered when first brought
up in the Senate.
II is estimated that rs per cent
of eligible veterans will desire the
certificate plan because of the iarS-
er fund available and the opportu-
nity for savings. Few will accept
a cash settlement. IL is thought.
Opponents of the measure ir Con-
gress- argue against its immediate
consideration because II cannot be-
come effective until next year at
any rate 1t is suggested that with
the measure as an issue in the COM
ing campaign, IL would be mad
yisable for the Senate to take pre-
mature action now
Would Use Foreign Debt.
McCumber suggested in the report
that the foreign debt might be used
TO furnish funds for payment.
This is a non-partisan measure,
McCumber declared in making his
presentation. Senators who are
known to be strong for the bill are
about equally divided on each side
Of the chamber.
The purpose is to give the SOL
dier who offered his life compen-
sation' that will more nearly ap-
proach that Of the laborer who re-
n1zined out OF the war and pros
pered at home. -.
t..I therefore appeal that it be
speedily passed as an American
ore Democratic issue.
The non-bonas group served no
tice that It is ready for strong
hght against the measure.
sharp Debate Precedes.
The filing OF the report was pre-
cedsd by q sharp debate in which
Senator Underwood. Of Alabama,
Democratic leader. declared his op-
position to the bonus and provok ed
a revolt on the part Of his Demo-
cratic followers.
Senator Robinson, OF Arkansas
who some times assumes the Demo-
cratic leadership. told the Senate
that not many Of the Democrats
world follow Mr.. Cnderwood's stan
dsrd on this Issue.
Senator williams. Of Mississippi
seized upon the bonus as a lever
10 pry the tariR out of its place
before the Senate. Unanimous con-
sent was required to allow Mr.. Nc
Cunber to bring the bonus report
before the Senate and Senator Will
Jams refused to give his consent.
insisting that the tariff be side
tracked After some wrangling on
the floor and considerable parley-
ing In the cloakrooms, Senator Will
tarns disappeared and. during his
brief absence. Senator McCumber
succeeded IN making his report