The Washington herald., 1922-11-16
Will Veto Bonus Bill by
New Congress Without
Revenue Plan.
WESTERNERS SEEK
HOUSE LEADERSHIP
President Is Determined
Democrats Shall Not
Force Extra Session.


the administration's command will
be brought to bear against the DEM
ocrats and insurgents in a drive
to clean up the legislative program
before March 4 and eliminate the
necessity for an extra session of
the newly elected Congress.
President Harding told Senators
who conferred with him yesterday
that he was absolutely determined
not to issue a call for an extra
session of the new Congress after
March 4. He believes the govern
ment can function satisfactorily
without aid of the new Congress
until December. 1923. Furthermore.
Mr.. Harding made il clear that his
demand for passage Of the ship
subsidy bill is not a mere gesture.
He is thoroughly in earnest about
II. He believes Congress. con-
trolled as it is now. by an over
whelming Republican majority. will
have ample time to put through
the ship subsidy bill and all the
annual appropriation bills. notwith-
standing the prospect of a filibuster
by Republican insurgents and the
Democrats. Night sessions probably
will be resorted to In an effort
to wear down the opposition and
clean the legislative slate.
Representative Mondell has re-
turned to confer with President
Harding on the legislative program.
Mondell IL Optimistic.
The ship subsidy bill. Mondell
believes, will be disposed of in a
week. and at a conference with the
President today he expects to evolve
a program which, he is confident.
will be passed by the House in time
to prevent the convening of the
new Congress.
Chairman Lasker, of the Ship
ping Board, spent some time with
the President yesterday to furnish
data in defense of the merchant
marine act
Polls OF the new Congress pur-
porting to show that 1t will be
able to pass a bonus bill over
Presidential veto have left the
White House totally unmoved.
II Congress sends another bonus
bill down to President Harding. and
it fails to include some practicable
plan for raising the money to meet
the payments. President Harding
will veto it without hesitation.
This position was emphatically
stated at the White House yester-
day by an authorized spokesman
for the President.
1t is realized that should the
new Congress re-enact the bonus
bill recently vetoed. President Hard
ing might not be able to prevent
its becoming a law. But fear of
being overruled will not induce
the President to go back on his po-
sition.
Serious Complications Seen.
Serious complications. affecting
the prospects of the Republican
party in 1924 would conceivably fol-
low enactment of bonus bill over
Harding's veto. Much as his firm
ness might be appIauded by fnan-
ciers and business men thinking in
terms of government finance. Hard
ing unquestionably would bring
down on his own head the disap-
provaI Of a large number of voters.
especially since the American Le-
giOn has just recommitted itself t.
the bonus.
Rut President Harding is hoping
the new Congress will find some
way of including the sales tax. or
some other feasible money-raising
feature. IL il insists upon enacting
another bonus bill. In this case he
would. as he has always said, sign
the measure. However. Congress
will squirm for some time before
adding To the tax burden.
Among others who conferred with
the President were Senator Warren,
Of Wyoming. chairman Of the Senate
Appropriations Committee and SEN
ator Curtis. Of Kansas. Republican
whip With Senator Warren he dis
cussed the necessity for quick work
to get the Appropriation bills through
at the regular session. To the sug-
gestiOn that the insurgents and
Democrats might block some of the
appropriation bills by filibusterinG
tactics, the President is understood
to have replied that even this would
not compel him to call an extra
session.
Like Nilson situation.
Inc situation IS rapluly becoming
analogous to that which arose when
he Democratic Congress was eX-
oJing on March 4, 1919, and the
Republicans were about to take con-
.rol. President Wilson was exceed
ngly anxious to avoid an extra
session at that time and announced
hat under no circumstances would
le call one. Senator La Toilette.
II Wisconsin, and others promptly
accepted the challenge. blocked
some of the most important appro-
,riation bills and Mr.. Wilson finally
vas compelled to call an extra ses-
sion to save the government depart
nents from bankruptcy. This same
group, now considerably strength
med, is determined to make history
.epeat Itself.
Senator Curtis informed the PES
dent the Senate probably woule ad-
ourn Immediately upon reconven-
ne Monday as a mark Of respect to
he late Senator watson, of Georgia.
Who died during the recess. Be-
,ause of this Mr.. Harding probably
will not deliver his message to Con-
gress until Tuesday. 1t is under
TODD he will deliver his message