New-York tribune., 1922-04-08
Quotes President AS De.
claring He Would In-
dorso Bill il No Radi-
csl Changes Be Made
Easv Passage in
Senate Forecast
Finance Committee Elimi-
mates the Provision
for Land Reclamation
By Carter Field


change from the form in which il
passed the House, and signature of the
bill ny President Harding we're con
ceded to-day by several Of the bills
most determined opponents.
Two Developments have practica1ly
ewcpt away hope Of beating The meas.
ure. One Of these was a etatemcnt hv
Chairman Joeenh ". Fordney in let.
ter to constituent in Detroit that
} President Harding had told him he re.
ssIded the bill! passed by the House az
good and that ne would sign il if it
passed tie Senate without substantial
modification,
One Change To Be Made
The other development was the
practical assurance that the Senate
Finance Committee, which now has the
bill. would report it in the near future.
with just one change This change is
the elimination Of the alternative
proposition with regard to land recls
r'stion There has been considerable
bitter opposition to this section of
the bill as it passed the House. even
smong some Of the most devoted
friends Of the bonus
Io-day's confessions by opponents of
the bill do not mean that there will, he
10 debate when 1t comes out on the
noor OF the Senate. On the contrary
there Is group of Senators who will
* at great length and who would re-.
m "llilngly 70 tilibuster if thew
snought It possible TO beat the bill. In
slscussing the situation to-day none of
shem thought 1t likely that any of the
group would so that far because the
utter tut,l!ty of such a course is an.
parent.
Their only hope had been in Presi.
Dent Harding. and. according to Mr..
fordn,eys letter, this hope has now
passed
Mr. Fordneg's statement that the
president would sign the House bill.
@!l passed by tbs Senate in that form,
u Me more interesting because of the
strongly expressed desire of the Presi-
ecnt that the bonus measure should
sfher be postponed or that it should
oe nnanced by sales tax, to be pro
elded for in the same act of legisla-
f'cn as the bonus itself
no Chance for Sales Tax in Senate
both desires of the President were
Hstly rejected by the House. 1t passed
the bill without DELAY, and the senti-
h1ent against including the sales tax
vas overwhelming. Efforts NAV be
made IN the Senate to include the sales
yak but II go they will be made with
shelf hackers knowing in advance that
tney nave no chance whatever. A ma
aorlty of the Senate is against the
saies tan and an amendment including
II IN the bonus bill will he voted down
o. suhstantisl majority if it is pro-
4osed. NO one has any doubt as TO
NlS' FORCING a vote on the sales tax
vii accomplish t~o things: One the
quitting Of the Senate on record on
EAis proposition, and the other tridng
Gelay, before the final vote on the sol
nler bonus can be achieved.
mere IS still much uncertainty as
,3,e !? the exact time in which the bonus
p'll can be passed by the Senate. Sen
seo's 60 opposed to If will fight to prevent
tHe terlh from being edetracked to
give the bonus clear road. but even
~ Vhls question there is no doubt that
.Ae advocates Of the bonus have such
|emenoous majority that they can
"o Almost anything they wish.
A, ~ 3enator who is voting for the
you'd dare TO vote against motion
20 sidetrack the tariff bill so as to
speed the passage OF the bonus bill.
Action Will Be fastened
1t is understood that the House lead.
al'ef the Senate has passed the
str;i; UatS measure with the amendment
g. .AiAs ont the land reclamation fea-
shal VIII ask the House to accept the
80 mace by the Senate, so that
zen the delay which might otherwise
Sceur IN the conference between the two
eoTses OF Congress may be avoided.
theH the bill, 1t is declared. will be
h sao. through TO the President. Pro
Sohus leaders say. though they are
sa.elui to request that their names be
ro. n uSeo IN this connection. that the
resldent viii then realize that he is
10y not taking any responsibility for
sne nad results which he fears will
,o svao% the passage Of the bill, as il
~ DC evident, they assert, from the
vies IN both houses that, even if he
80 nt vs'o the bill, there would be plenty
'o'es and to spare to pass it owe,
1
The President, thcv point out. is also
sound by the pledge which he made in
sde residential primaries in Ohio
go go ne favored d bonus bill. He has
sssR as far ss he conscientiously can
.. .my assert following many converse.
I..aS IioaS "ltt him on tho subject in the
.att .ass month, in urging that Congress
meoe s"eF POSTPONE the measure until
opportuna time, so far as the
s.ohomlc situation of the country i:
htU"eerned, or else to pay for the bonu:
oy q sales tax.
ten before the Fordney letter the
In VINO hoped most strongly for q
,tsioentlal veto of the bill frankly
SEQ they did not know whether the
resident would sign it or not.
AdmiraIs Say Limited
Naxy G, nocnJ Io~ov,