Arizona republican., 1922-03-21
HARDING REFUSES To OFFER
ANY BONUS SUGGESTIONS
TO REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
Republican Leaders Baked in Effort to Bring
Bonus Bill Up Under Suspension of Rules to
Try and Force Action Thursday; President
Says Previous Bonus Recommendation Suf-
ficient.

WASHINGTON March 20.-Bslked
in their desire TO get the measure mp
today under a suspension of the rules,
Republican house leaders in charge or
the compromise soldiers bonus bill.
still were determined tonight TO put
the measure through this week. Their
expressed intention was to call IL up
Thursday under suspension Of the
rules IL possible otherwise under 2
special rule, which probably would
shut out amendments.
Before the house met today, the
whole situation was laid before Pres
ident Harding at the White House
by committee of house leaders. but
the executive declined to make any
recommendations. Upon leaving the
Presidents office, Representative
Mondell OF Wyoming, who headed the
committee, issued this written state
ment.
"The legislative situation relating
to the bonus bills was fully presented
TO the President, with detailed expla-
nations Of the provisions which re-
move the menace OF excessive drafts
on the treasury in the immediate fli-
ture and avoid any program OF added
taxation. The President went over
the entire situation. with an appraisal
or commitments made. He advised
the committee that the legislation Is
a responsibility OF congress, and In
view OF expressions previously made.
he did not think it essential to offer
any recommendations.''
Speaker Gillett also had an en-
gagement with the President I'm the
forenoon to discuss the question OF a
suspension Of the rules, but the ex-
ecutives conference with the house
committee lasted so long that the
speaker was obliged to forego his ap-
pointment in order TO be at the capitol
at noon to preside over the house.
Reaching the capitol. he made known
to those in charge OF the bonus legis-
lation, his decision not to entertain a
motion to suspend the rules and pass
the bill
This necessitated further confer
ences among the leaders, who refused
TO abandon their plan TO call up the
bill with the rules suspended so as 10
cut Off motion TO recommit the bill
a well as all amendments. The whole
question OF procedure was discussed
at the conference held in the speak
er's office after the house had sd-
journed following a 50.minute ses-
sion.
nGdCU mo iN&l 0UGi@lons
Present at this conference we're
members of the ways and means COM
mittee and the party steering COM
mittee as well as other leaders.
No final decision on procedure was
reached. but there was at least
tacit agreement that the bill would
come up Thursday.
Representative Mondell issued this
statement when the conference
broke up:
Tomorrow we shall reach deci-
sion, possibly by noon as to when
and how the measure will be brought
up for consideration. There will be
no party conference"
Asked il the bill would come up this
week, the floor leader said:
oh undoubtedly. probably not
later than Thursday"
Speaker Gillett said things are as
unsettled as they were adding the
only thing certain IS that the bill
will come UP Thursday"
In their meeting with the speaker
the members went over the whole
situation. Representative I.ineberger
OF California. a former service man.
wanted a party conference called 10
thresh out the bonus question and
the speaker was represented as fav-
oIlnE lnlS PROCEDURE. ObneiS opDOSeA
such a plan, however, arguing that
this would open up the whole bill to
change. Mr. Lineberger finally
agreed not 10 press for a conference
and after further discussion 1t was
decided 10 leave until tomorrow the
final decision by the speaker as 10
procedure.
Attending the White House confer
ence, which lasted nearly two hours,
were Mr. Mondell, Chairman Fordney
of the ways and means committee,
Chairman Campbell of the rules com
mittee, Chairman Towner of the house
conference, Chairman Fess OF the
congressional committee and Repres
sentative Longworth of Ohio. They
laid the whole situation before the
President, emphasizing the change
that had been made in the bill since
the Presidents last letter to Mr..
Fordney suggesting a sales tax or
postponement of the legislation.
President Non Committal
The President was represented as
giving no indication one way or afr
other as to his views on the bill and
as desiring to be left free TO pass
Judgment on it when II reached the
White House. He was quoted as
saying that he had not had the on
portunity 10 study all OF its provi-
sions AS fully as he might wish also
that he thought the responsibility
was with congress AT this time.
When the White House callers got
on the floor of the house, they We're
surrounded hy groups Of n1emherE