The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-09-20
HOUSE PASSES
BONUS ABOVE
HARDING VETO
Vote 258 to 81 or SO More
Than Necessary Two Thirds
Majority Time Of Senate
Action is Uncertain.
SENATORS MAY SHIFT
(Ry Associated Pressl

WASHINGTON, Sept. 20-The house
passed the soldiers bonus bill today
over President Harding's veto. The
vote was 25S to 54 or so more than
the necessary two-thirds majority.
The time of senate action is indefi-
mite. Some favored the final test of
strength Immediately after the house
voted but others, and these included
several of the Republican leaders coun-
selled delay until tomorrow. 1t was
their view that with the bonus issue
disposed of it would be difficult to
keep a quorum for action on important
matters awaiting decision before ad-
journment of congress.
In his message to the house, Presi-
dent Harding based his veto of the
bonus largely on the ground of the
failure of congress to provide a method
of financing and the consequent heavy
drain it would prove on the treasury.
Deficit is Faced
He made it clear that the interest
on the foreign debt could not be re-
lied upon asserting that even taking
into account such payments as were
likely to be received from that source
the treasury faced deficit of $780,
600, 600 this fiscal year and an even
further shortage in the succeeding
year.
The president declared that enact
ment of the measure would wipe out
the result of the administration econ
omy program and would entail further
borrowing by the treasury, every one
of which he added, threatened higher
interest and delayed the adjustment to
stable government financing and the
diminution of federal taxes to the de-
fensible cost of government.
BY KENNETH w. CLARK
WASHINGTON, Sept. 20.-Interest
in the bonus fight centers in the senate
where both sides claimed the votes
1t was apparent that in that body
the veto would be sustained or over
ridden by a scant margin. The ad-
vantage today appeared to rest with
Mr.. Harding and the anti.bonus SEN
ators. The senate probably will take
up the vote tomorrow.
The presidents vigorous message,
| delivered late yesterday to the house
was counted on by anti-bonusers to
give some senators who have already
voted for the bonus an "alibi' for
changing their positions now.
Senators Encouraged
The drear picture Mr.. Harding
painted of the financial disaster the
bonus would bring about if insisted on
at this time, was expected to be used
by a number of senators in explaining
to their constituents why they chang
ed front
! In his message-by far the most
pointed and vigorous he has delivered
since entering the White House, Mr.
! Harding told congress:
| That he could not approve the bonus
| bill because it failed to provide means
for raising revenue to pay the $4,000,
| 100000 bonus.
That while the American people will
never cease to be grateful to those
who served in the war, they are not
under a monetary obligation to those
who came through the war, unscathed
and who, while they were in the serv
ice, did not expect a bonus.
Cash VS.. Patriotism.
That the bonus bill puts patriotism
on a cash basis and that in so doing
it is inadequate and stingy, and fur
thermore, suggests that in the future
men will join the army for money and
not because of duty to flag and coun
try.
That the certificate plan of deferred
payments provided by the bill is Ger
titled inability of the government tC
pay, a perversion of the public credit
and economically unscJnd, in that nj
provision is made to meet the event
ual liability. To the injured, disabled
and diseased, he said the country owes
an undeniable obligation, which it i;
paying and will pay with unstinteC
/ generosity.
! MacNder Takes Issue.
Hanford MacNider, commander o
the American Legion, in a signed
statement, took issue with Mr.. Hard
ing On the veto.
"The legion feels this to be a JUS
obligation" said MacNider. THE of
fering of a mans life and his servic,
with the colors at least should receive
consideration with the services of con
tractors, manufacturers, railroads anC
shipping interests"