New-York tribune., 1922-03-19
Caucus of Cillett and 25
Others, Representing
House Factions, Unable
TO Agree ON Procedure
Solution Sought
From President
Service Group Demands
Chance to Vote OH Cash
Plan With Sales Tax
Prom Ths 7'rsounO's washlnoton Bursou

Prom Ihs Trs5unc's yyashlnoton Bureau
WASHINGTON, March 18.-Decisiou
by the House Of Representatives on
what TO do with It's soldiers bonus bill
tonight awaits the arrival Of President
Harding. A rump caucus this after
noon between Speaker Gillett and
twenty-five members, representing vir-
tually every element in tho House,
failed 70 end the confusion thai has
Ncen The order on the question for the
last week. The conference, which was
expected to decide whether the bill will
be toycod through the lower BODY next
Monday under the gag" rule, broke Up
with all sides agreed upon only one
thing-namely, passing the buck to the
President.
The Executives return tomorrow
from Florida is expected to be followed
by real exhibition OF fast work bv the
House leaders. Floor Leader Mordell.
Who, with Chairman Focdney Of the
VI ays and Means Committee, hopes to
Put over tho suspension Of che rules
Tor consideration Of the measure on
Monday, announced after the meeting
thIs afternoon that he would sec Presi-
dent Harding probably p Few hours
aftec his arrival.
Giliett Silent Over Intention.
Speaker Gillett assumed sudden
and complete silence after the session.
out it Is understood he win conmuni.
cate with the White House before he
takes the chair on Monday to block the
Moadel l-Fordney plan.
=, = = shant !!at;i F1 have any statement to
thing the Speaker would saw.
In addition, a third and ct present
ss!ightly less important side of the
House wrangle will be taken to the
President by Representative Lineber- t'ie
ger. Republican, Of California, pilot
Of tine House Service group o. twen-
ty-seven members. He will, it is de-
clared, attempt to bolster W through
the President the demand Of the group
Tor an opportunity so vote on the floor
on granting straight cash bonus and
Oh general sales tax amendment.
The meeting IL Speaker Gillett'g Of
icc to-day was attended by Chairman
l'ordney, Majority Leader Mondejj,
Chairman Campbell Of the Rules Com
mtttee, Chairman Madden OF the Ap-
propriations Committee and repre-
sentatiyes Of the steering comnlitteo
Ways and Means Committee and other
factions II The person Of Representa-
tiyes Hawley, Coplcy, Chandler, OF
eOkliah1on1a;, Mott, OF New York Tim
berlake, Treadway, Tilson, Tinchor,
Mann, Dunn, Nolan, Towner, Woodruff Fl.
Linebergcr, Fess, Sanders, Young. OF
North Dakota; Longworth, Had!ey, An
oeTson, Greene, OF Iowa, Fear and
Walsh. OF Massachusetts.
Gil!ett Urged to Yield
Strong pressure, il vas learned, was
brought upon The Speaker in an effort
d. win him over to the gag rule. Mr.
Mondell, Mr. Fordney and several
others urged that the Speaker should
not weigh his personal convictions on
the Issue against the fact that the
Ways and Means Committee had
brought the bonus Dill out by g vote
OF almost four to one and at the d.
rectiou OF q Republican party confer
ence. They contended the new bill
should be sent to the Senate as drafted
BY The committee, and that this could
be assured only through its con
sideration under procedure prccludine
amendment entirely The Speaker, i
iS unQeIStOOU, SUONcQ no Signs OF
yielding, merely stating TO his col
leagues, when pressed closely, that his
pert in the conference was that OF
audience"
Mr.. Mondcll's comment OF the joint
meeting was:
owe discussed the question Of the
bonus in ell OF its phases fully, freely
and good-naturedly We did not reach
any definite conclusion or make any
definite arrangements. I have made =
request to see the President tomorrow
night, and have asked the President tc
invite such other gentlemen as have
been influential enG responsible III tho
bonus movement"
Asked if the Speaker would recog.
nize him on Monday to present the
bonus bill, Mr.. Mondell replied:
Gle might"
Chairman Fordney had nothing &c
add to the Mondell statement, which
ne said, "described exactly what hap
pened" lie repeated, however: "I'n,
going to call the bill up as soon as
possible. It's not going TO be aban-
doned-not on your lifei 1t Will be
passed, think, without the crossing
Of 't' or the dotting of an 'i.'"
Despite the talk OF procedure, thorc
continues to be no doubt in the minds
fcont,nucd on next pau.)