The New York herald., 1922-03-15
SHOWDOWN ON BONUS
WANTED BY HARDING
President Preparing to Meet
Issue and Will Make No
Compromise.
GILLETT AGAINST GAG
Speaker Declares for Full
Debate to Put Every Mem
ber on Record.
CALLS IT BIGGEST ISSUE
He Will Confer With Fordney
and Oppose Any Attempt
at RailrOading.

Special Dispatch TO THE New YoRK HERALD
PALM BEACH, Fla, March 14.--It be-
came evident to-day to those in touch
with President Harding and members
Of his vacation party that the Ad-
ministration is preparing for a show
down in the open on the bonus bill.
Speaker Gillett of the House. when
houseboat here this morning, said he
was opposed to the adoption of any
gag" rule to jam the bonus bill
through the House without full oppor-
tunity for debate and amendment. He
will confer with Chairman Fordney Of
the Ways and Means Committee on
his return to Washington next Satur-
day and explain to Mr.. Fordney his
view OF the President.
Speaker Gillett made it clear that he
believed the bonus question is the big
gest facing Congress and the country
because OF the enormous sum of money
involved and the threat against the
financial stability of the banking system
and business conditions generally. be-
sides being an attempt by small
minority of the people to frighten Con-
gress into a raid repugnant to the
honest Judgment of many men who ad-
init they will vote for 1t for political
reasons.
Would Put All ON Record.
Such a question should be considered
by the House, he believes, under rules
of procedure which will not prevent
either the friends or the opponents OF
the bill from expressing their opirtons
fully and offering all the amendments on
the floor that may be necessary to put
every man in the House on record on
each important feature involved In the
bill
If the bonus advocates. under the
leadership OF Chairman Fordney, at
tempt to force through special gag
rule to limit debate and amendments
and TO railroad the measure President
Harding is ready and anxious that the
showdown come on that issue first The
President and his friends believe that
the adoption of such tactics, even though
they may bring temporary success in the
House, in the end will not help this
attempt to raid the Treasury instead OF
facing the issue squarely and postponing
the legislation or eEacting a sales tax
to provide the cash.
Attorney-General Daugherty likewise
reflected the Administration view or the
bonus question.
Na~t sums LnvoIved in Claims.
1T might interest those who are de-
batting the question of a soldiers bonus"
he said, ITO know that claims are await
ing adjustment under the roof OF the
Department Of Justice, involving in
round numbers s1,250.0 0.000,0 900. OF this
amount, $3.50. 0.0O0.0 900 alone arises out
OF alleged infringement or patents.
Then there IS s70.000OQ0. which comes
out OF the Shipping Board.
1T IS no part Of the Department or
Justice TO deal secretly with the bonus
issue. nor do / mean to express any
views on that question at this moment.
But II Is proper for the Department OF
Justice to call attention to the financing
that will be necessary in connection
with these claims, aggregating approxi-
mately 1850. .0000 900, as a contribution
to the general discussion that is now go
ing on with regard to the nations
finances and bonus"