The Topeka state journal., 1922-01-17
Republican Senators to Rush
Veteran Compensation.
Conference of Party Chiefs
Called by Lodge.
BOND SALE TO Be RUSHED
SOIidify Party on Issue Object
of Conference.
Must Redeem Pledge Made Ex-
Soldiers Last Year.

Washington, Jan. 1.-THE first di-
rect step toward financing the soldiers
bonus thru the sale in this country of
four billion dollars worth of British
debt bonds was taken today when
Senator Henry Cabot Lodge. the Re
publican leader of the senate, issued
a call for a conference of the SEN
ate,s entire Republican membership.
The conference of the sixty Repub-
lican members will be held tomorrow
when Senators Lodge and Curtis will
explain the Republican senatorial plan
for underwriting the British bonds and
then offering them to the public as
gilt edge securities that will afford
a means of meeting the adjusted com
pensation of former American soldiers.
Pay Vets This Year.
"a soldier bonus paid in 1922" is
the slogan of Republican leaders who
have set themselves the task of re-
deeming the administration pledge
toward former soldiers when the
bonus bill was temporarily shelved last
summer.
At that time, it was believed a bonus
bill would be passed as soon as the
financial situation of the country war
ranted. The pending passage of the
foreign debt funding bill is held to
bring about the situation that will
make a bonus possible.
Use All Speed.
At the conference tomorrow the
Republican leaders are expected to
meet the objections that have been
raised toward a payment of the SOL
diers' bonus from the sale of foreign
debt bonds, and to solidify Republican
lines so that it will be possible to put
the bonus bill thru congress at top
speed.
The conference will probably result
in the framing of an amendment to
the foreign debt funding bill now be-
fore the senate so that the proposed
British bond sale can be accomplished.
It was considered likely by Senator
Lodge today the full four billion dol
lars would not be required. In that
case, the margin would be returned to
the United States tress sury.
Be General Get-Together.
While the, call mentioned only the
allied debt funding measure some Re
publican leaders stated privately that
the conference was to serve also as a
general get-tOgether affair. Coming
as it does in the wake of the series of
conferences which Republican sena-
insiders attach additional significance
to the meeting.
With the funding bill drawn in a
form believed to be acceptable to the
administration senate majority leaders
are determined to rush it thru the
senate with a view to speeding up ac-
tual negotiations, holding the view
that a settlement of the foreign debt
question will go a long way toward
improving economic conditions in Eu-
rope.
Under the bill as now before the
senate, the refunding commission of
five members would have very broad
powers in conducting negotiations
with the debtor nations. 1t would
have authority to defer interest pay
ments and also to fix the rate of in
| terest. Democratic senators under
the leadership of Senator Simmons of
North Carolina, ranking minority
member of the finance committee, OBJ
ject to grant of such powers.
Harding Satisfied With Bill.
President Harding is entirely salts
fled with the foreign debt funding bill
as it is now reported to congress, it
was stated officially at the White
House today.
The bill provides for commission
of five men, headed by the secretary of
the treasury to settle the funding ar
rangements of the $11, 900, goo, 900 in
debtedness and reposes wide authority
| in the treasury head, as desired by the
White House.
Denies Vets Neglected.
Emphatic denial was made at the
White House this afternoon on behalf
of President Harding, that the gov
ernment is derelict in its duty toward
the disabled veterans of the world
war. President Harding feels some re-
sentiment, it was said to the charges
being made that men wounded in the
world war are being exploited or neg
lected at the hands of the govern
ment
On the contrary. it was said. Presi-
! dent Harding is of the opinion that
| everything possible" is being done
for the disabled veterans.