Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-03-16
HOUSE LEADERS
DIVIDED over
HANDLING BONUS
Suspension of R u | e S
at Introduction Would
Balk Amendments
Fear Speaker Gillett May Block
Such a Course When He Re-
turns from Florida Thought
He Will Voice Views of
President-SecOnd Group
Fav0rs Delay in Action

Washington, Mar. 15.-There devel-
oped today a difference Of opinion
among Republican leaders in the
house as to the method Of calling up
the soldiers bonus bill on the floor.
One group still favored consideration
next Monday under a suspension of
the rules, which would cut off all
amendments, while another held the
opinion that delay in action would be
preferable.
On all sides it was stated that a de-
cision would await the return here
Saturday of Speaker Gillett, who is
in Florida with President Harding.
Meantime there was speculation
among house members as to whether
the speaker would entertain a motion
TO suspend the rules and pass the bill.
Chairman Fordney of the ways and
means committee disclosed that he
had been informed by Mr.. Gilett be-
fore the speaker left Washington that
ne iidu DtttCI lOI uCp Sllu NitiitlS ohA
a suspension of rules as the procedure
for getting the bill before the house.
Since he has been in Florida the
speaker has indicated that he might
not entertain motion for this pur-
pose because of what he regards as
the Importance of the bonus meas
ure.
Representative Mondell. Wyoming,
the Republican leader, said today it
would be rather unusual for the
speaker to refuse to entertain such
a motion if n majority of the house
desired consideration of the bill under
such plan. He added that it was
his judgment that majority did so
desre.
Representative Garner, Texas, the
Nnking Democrat on the ways and
! means committee declared that if
/ Speaker Gillett were persistent
against the passage of the bill he has
the power in his office to prevent its
consideration"
In the discussion today in house
cloak rooms and corridors some OF
those advocating considerable of the
! bill under a suspension of the rules
advanced the argument that to take
it up under n special rule might re-
suit in complications. They said
there was the possibility of a motion
to recOmmit with instructions to the
committee to re-insCrt the cash bonus
feature and provide for an excess
profits tax to finance it. Some con
tended that such motion probably
would prevail.
Those counselling delay beyond
next Monday think that before tho
house acts there should be an infor-
NAL conference by house leaders with
President Harding, particularly in
view of the action of the ways and
means committee in voting to report
out the bill within ten minutes after
Secretary Mellon and Comptroller OF
| the Currency CrisSnger had appear
cd by invitation and had opposed the
bank loan section of the adjusted ser.
vice certificate option. Their idea is
that after this conference the house
Republicans could have a party con-
| ference at which there could be an
agreement to reject all amendments
| except such as the majority party
| might agree upon.
Preparation of the committee re-
port on the bill was under way to-
day. but it was not expected to be
ready for formal presentation to the
house until late tomorrow.