The New York herald., 1922-03-11
ANTI-BONUS REVOLT
is BREWING IN HOUSE

voked 10 prevent debates and amend
gestions is advanced by a Democratic
opponent OF the bill. He said to-day
that he would introduce an amend
ment ito pay bonus to the widow of
the unknown soldier" He defended
Ii on the ground that II is "just as
reasonable as some of the other fool
schemes brought forward"
For some unaccountable reason a
number of the bonus members of Con-
gress persist in asserting that Presi-
dent Harding can be induced to ac-
cept bonus bill even If it does not
carry the sales tax feature which he
has declared to be the only form OF
financial provision acceptable to him.
Members OF this frame of mind are
agitating the advisability of address
ing another appeal to the President to
help them out of their dilemma This
scheme did not get very far to-day
because the majority of the members
have practically abandoned hope of
securing any help from him. The
more ardent of the bonus members
favor the appeal in the hope that the
President may yet appreciate their
dire political needs and lend helping
hand.
A development that provoked a
great deal of anger on the part of the
Democratic Senators and Representa-
tives to-day was the report that the
Republican leaders are devising a plan
to obtain the larger political benefits
Inc tlxy
through. According to this report some
of the Republican leaders have
sounded out the Navy and War de-
partments regarding the character OF
the machinery that must be set up for
the investigation of claims for Gov
ernment gratuities.
would Pose as Benfactors.
Republican members who are inter
ested solely in prospective political
benefits to themselves have suggested
that a color system of claim cards be
adopted by the Navy and War depart
ments which will insure the friend
ship of "the soldier boys for their
Republican benefactors.
Under this plan a certain colored
card is to have preference in the ad-
judication and certification of claims.
1t is needless to add that "the right
colored card" will mean that the claim
ant is friendly TO a Republican candi-
date for Congress. Officials of the
Navy and War departments said this
afternoon that the matter had not
been called to their attention.
The pronounced opposition TO the
Fordney insurance certificate plan is
having a marked effect on the atti-
tude of Senators. A survey OF the
Senate this afternoon indicated almost
a ma jority against IL, with the number
of objectors constantly growing.
Unexpected opposition is also de-
vcloping on the House side. Repre-
sentative Mills OF New York an
nouncad that he would oppose the in
surance certificate scheme because the
bill (D seeks to compel banks to ac-
cept paper which cannot be sold or
discounted; (2) interferes with the
Treasury's FIVE year refundinG plan
f3) natures the certificates at the
time tho second Liberty Loan falls
due: (i) violates sound Government
finance by making no provision for
meeting the obligations. and (5) vio-
lates every principle upon which tie
executive budget system is based.
The bonus scheme was also attacked
in speech by Representative knight,
Republican, of the Fourteenth Ohio
district Declaring that the world war
left burden of $1,000 on every fam
lily in the United States and that the
interest charges on the national debt
exceed s1.000.O00.00O year. the Ohio
Representative declared that the bonus
legislation is indefensible from either
the economic or patriotic standpoint.