Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1922-09-21
HARDING DEAF TO
M'NIDER'S PLEA
Fayors Bonus, but Disapproves
Bill as Passed by
Congress.
WILL VETO THE MEASURE
President Declares the Bill as Passed
by Both Houses Would Eventually
Cost the Taxpayers Fifty
Billion Dollars.

Washington, Sept 10. -Presiden
Harding has definitely decided to veto
the bonus bill, it was learned at the
White House.
He has already prepared an ex
tensive message detailing his reasons
for doing so. He wifi read this mes
sage to his cabinet Tuesday morning
preliminary to dispatching 1t to the
capitol, it was stated.
This decision was reached following
conference with World war veterans,
who made a strong plea that he APP
prove the bill. The confidence the
veterans exhibited prior to seeing the
President disappeared when they
came out. They would make no for
NAL statement, but showed that they
had met with a defeat.
While strong pressure was being
brought to bear on the President from
both sides, congress was making plans
to act in case of veto. The house
decided that veto could not be acted
on before Wednesday Of next week.
In the senate foes and friends Of
the bonus were exerting every influ-
ence to line up members. Opponents
claim to have enough strength to sus-
tain the President, but strong infiu-
ence was being brought to bear by
Legion posts from home districts In
the hope of changing this sentiment.
McNider Sees President.
Hanford Member, head of the Amer
'can Legion, and a delegation Of vet
Grams and War Mothers, made an earn
est plea to the President to sign the
bonus bill.
With Member were Col A. G. Nc
Elroy, Grand Army of the Republic;
Col. Til l.. Huston of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars, and representatives of
the American Legion auxiliary, dis
abled American veterans, Spanish
war veterans and Gold Star Mothers.
1.-THE nation stands behind us in our
appeal" McNider said to the Presl-
dent. "Whenever the people have
voted on this question their answer
has been overwhelmingly favorable.
II benefit to the veterans concerned
is provided now, no great pension
system except for disabled veterans
will be necessary during the coming
years to meet their handicap. Imme-
date adjustment viii save the nation
billions NJ dollar and restore the
faith of those sorely tried by what
they feel to be national lngratltude
and injustice" 'ifTF
! Mrs. Alice NJ French, indianapolis,
president Of the War Mothers. made
M impassloned appeal on behalf of
the women who gave their sons.
Favors Bonus but Mot Sill.
Mr.. Harding replied with the state
n,ent that he frankly favored bonus
and every Other measure of relief for
veterans, but DID not consider the
measure before him adequate in any
way. He pointed OF that In the first
place he favored sales tax as
means of providing the fund to pay
compensation.
Some OF the provisions in the bonus
bill are extremely vague and indefinite,
he pointed out He added that Ii
would also establish precedent that
would stand for all time and before
the treasury could complete payment
the sum would amount to fifty billions
instead of the three or four billions
claimed for ii.
The President kept the engrossed
copy of the bin before him on his desk
through the day, He studied 1t care
fully before dispatching II TO the
treasury where 1t must undergo fur
Their careful scrunity and have af-
fixed to IL recommendation from
Secretary Mellon. All bills providing
for expenditures must be sent TO the
treasury before being signed by the
President. There was no official word
at the White House as to when The
President will take final action,