Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-09-20
Lower House Believed Able to Vote Passage Of
Measure Over Presidents Head; Upper Leg
islative Branch Is Two Short of Required Two
Thirds Majority; MacNider Pleads for Action.

to make the national ready for the ex-
penditure which Is certain to be res
quired in the coming years.
Big Sum for Disabled
Mr.. Harding also called attention to
the sums now being expended for the
care of the diseased, disabled or de-
pendent, and asserted that the total
cost of this work, with insurance habil-
ity added, would probably exceed S25,-
O0O, 100000.
Only once did the president refer to
the interest on the foreign debt, out
of which proponents of the bill have
contended the bonus could be paid.
He told congress that the govern
ment was facing a deficit Of $3.50, 0,O0O,
900 during the current fiscal year and
further deficit for the year succeed
ing, "eyen after counting upon all In
terest collections on foreign indebted
ness which the government Is likely to
receive"
As to the immediate and ultimate
cost of the bonus, Mr.. Harding said
this was not definitely known. Treas
ury estimates, based on what seemed
the most likely exercise of the options,
he continued, figured the direct cost
of the $795 5,0O0, 900, for the first four
81, 900, 100000. He added that no esti-
mate of "the large indirect cost" had
ever been made.
The veto message was transmitted
to the house by a White House mes
, senger and its reading by clerk was
begun seven minutes after its delivery
at $40 p. m. There was a full at
| tendance of members, many Of whom
had returned to the capitol to vote on
the question of overriding the veto.
Il The reading was given close atten-
| ton, but was uninterrupted by ap-
plause. Chairman Fordney, Of the
ways and means committee, chief
| sponsor of the bonus In the house,
| moved down the aisle to table di-
rectly In front of the reading clerk and
with his hands cupped to his ears at
times listened intently. There was
scattering applause, mostly from the
republican side, when the reading
ended
House May Override Veto
Representative Mondell of Wyoming,
the republican leader, Immediately
moved that consideration of the mes
sage be deferred until Wednesday and
the motion prevailed.
| Although a two-thirds majority IS
necessary to override q veto, friends
this would be In the house.
Advisers Of the president apparently
were counting upon an unfavorable
vote in the house. but they were con-
| fident that the necessary two-thirds
could not be had in the senate.
| Further informal canvssses of the
senate membership were said to have
disclosed a lineup of thirty-four, or
two more than the one third necessary
to sustain the veto. The exception
was that about fifteen senators favor
able 20 the bonus would be absent
with only three or four OF the OPP
ponents away.
There was brief discussion Of the
bonus In the senate, while the presi-
| dents message was being read 70 the
house. Senator Harrison, democrat.
Mississippi, charged that some repub-
! lican senator's who had reported the
measure had been ''as busy as bees
coralling votes to sustain the presi-
| dent"
G. o. r. Breaking Promises
He also declared the republicans
were breaking promises and repudi-
ating pledges on the. bonus" and that
| the veterans were being slapped by
the president ignoring the win OF the
people and the expressions Of both
branches of congress"
Before sending his message to the
| house, the president continued his
conferences with senators. He invited
TO the White House Senators Cameron,
Of Arizona; Norbeck, of South Da-
kota: Oddie, Nevada, and Stanfield.
Oregon, republican supporters of the
boHus. They said afterwards, the exc
cutive had asked them to give especial
attention to figures he would present.
in his message regarding the financial
condition of the government and the
burden the bonus would entail upon
J the treasury.
! A final appeal TO congress to enact
! the bonus was made Tuesday night by
Hanford MacNider, national con-
mander Of the American Legion.
"It is our firm belief" he said, In
a formal statement, that the eco
nomic rehabilitation of the veteran ts
SO necessary to the welfare of the
country that immediate passage of the
bill should not be delayed"