The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-03-22
BONUS BILL
SNARL GROW
ING WORSE
Bitterness Increases in
Republican Circles
Hints Against Gil
lett

Washington. March l9.-Evcry
day that passes increases the bit
terness and seriousness OF the
snarl into which the Republican
party is getting itself over the
bonus bill which the majority Of
the ways and means committee. un-
der the leadership of Chairman
Fordncy, is trying TO drive through
the house by 'strong-arm meth
odS.
y promising new clement of dis
cord has been added by apparently
authentic reports from Florida
thar Speaker Gillett. who has been
with President Harding on the
brief presidential vacation. Will
refuse TO recognize Chairman Ford
ncy or anyone else who proposes
70 offer Il motion TO take up the
bill under suspension OF the rules,
which would mean rushing it
through in one session with forty
minutes Of debate and without
permitting any amendments TO be
considered.
Mr.. Fordncy and other leaders
in the agitation for this procedure
are planning TO call a Republican
caucus immediately, in the event
the speaker when seen here on his
way 10 New York, confirms the re-
ports that he Will not recognize any
member to move Il suspension OF
the rules and remains obdurate in
, that attitude. The present idea is
to have the caucus INSTRUCT" the
speaker to afford such recognition;
and back Of this idea turks a dis
position to undertake to unseat Mr.
Gillctt and install another speaker
il the instruction should not be
obeyed. OF course, a party caucus
has no right 20 instruct a speaker
OF the house-but that is another
story
Thore is still another reason 70:
the anxiety Of the leaders who IA
vor the pending bill to jam it
through the house Monday No;
only do they fear the lapse Of time
in engendcrins opposition TO the
measure itself and in giving fur
ther opportunities for discord. but
they have deadly dread that the
sentiment in favor of permitting
adequate debate and Of allowing
amendments to be offered will open
the way 10 revival Of the excess
profits TAX, which was abolished
; with much difficulty when the ex-
iSting revenue law was adopted
earlier in the session
y number Of Republican mem
hcrS Of congress who think the
bill ought 10 carry within it the
provision for paying the bonuses
which it undertakes to establish, in
order TO meet the presidents ulti-
matum. are trying TO have a caucus
OF their party colleagues called for
Monday or Tuesday night. Some
OF them are in favor OF the sales
tax: Others are in favor OF the eX-
cess profits tax. There is no ap-
parent possibility that a sales tax
could be adopted even with the
bonus propulsion behind it, but the
excess profits tax has formidable
support. and many who reluctantly
voted 10 abolish it earlier in the
session in order 10 stand with tho
administration would seize an oD-
portunlty TO restore it as a means
Of paving the bonus Most of the
Democras would probably vote foy.
the excess profits tax as Il revenue
raising amendment to the bonus
bill.
Ii the scheme to consider the
bin only for L few hours under gag
rule should prevail, there is 4 pc :
Sihility that an upset might occ I
through the adoption Of motto!
70 recommit it TO the committe
with instructions TO include e
excess profits tax as revenue a -
cr. Rumor has il that Chat N IN
F'ordney and majority OF lis
colleagues OF the ways and N .ans
committee would refuse TO con-
slider the bonus bill lurth if
it should be recommitted-: is
TO say, that they would iSnc II he
instruction in disgust and 4, er.
The only way OF getting II i'll
out OF the piSeon-hole in tha ,aSe
would be 10 p,,-S Il motion 10 lis
charge the committee from con-
sideration OF it. All this is gossip.
but not idle gossip. II is Syrnpto-
matte. There are mutterinsS OF
wrath a'-d resentment on every
side and 4 veritahle battle royal
may develop at any moment The
days OF CanoEi>m and the PAYNE
.AlGrich bill are being wildly re-
called.
CHICACOJN