The New York herald., 1922-07-08
SENATORS TO TAKE
BONUS TO HARDING
Continued from First Page.


support OF this objection was that none
of the debtor nations has proposed any
definite date for initiating funding
operations to cover such flnanciering.
The Presidents position on the bonus.
therefore, is pretty clearly known. He
was accorded most generous praise for
"the quiet courage" with which he had
refused to be stampeded by timid Con-
gressmen and politicians in the Ameri-
can Legion.
Dean West Of Princeton publicly
congratulated him for the fiffnness he
had displayed in this respect. Con-
sequently there does not appear to bs
the slightest doubt in the minds Of
most Of the Senators that the Presi-
dent appraises the principle and eco
nomic features of the bonus project
as unsound and unwise.
The only difference is they want him
to say so in person or to authorize
a statement as to his position. With
such authority Republican leaders Of
the Senate who are rapidly recover
ing from the delusion that the bonus
scheme possesses any political value
probably would move to recommit the
McCumber and all other measures de-
signed to grant Government gratuities
to able bodied service men who served
in the world war.
This undertaking certainly would
be supported by more than thirty Re-
publican and Democratic Senators who
are determined to prevent the looting
of the Treasury for the benefit of sol
diers trying to barter their votes with
candidats for reelection to Congress.
The Senators who still insist that
bonus bill must be passed regardless
of it's fate at the White House and
certain final rejection in the Senate
after a veto will unquestionably fight
vigorously against recommitting the
bill.
wOuld Remove All Doubt.
A positive statement from the Pres
ident that he would veto the McCum-
ber bill, which represents the last
word on the subject. would have the
effect OF ultimately shelving it, as una
der the Senate rules it could be pre-
vented from reaching a vote by the
same processes which are now being
employed against the tariff.
A good deal of significance is at
tached to the fact that Mr.. McCumber.
the author of the bonus bill and chair
man Of the Finance Committee, was
left off the committee authorized to
confer with the President about it.
Mr.. McCumber put up stiff fight to
save the bonus at the Lodge confer
ence. He insisted that the Republican
party was pledged to pass bonus bill,
though the platform adopted by the
last Republican National Convention
did not contain any such promise. He
then asserted that the party was
pledged morally" to pass such a
measure because individual Senators
and Representatives had promised the
officials in the American Legion they
would vote for 1t.
The North Dakota Senator further
contended it still would be possible TO
meet the objections raised by the
President to the bill passed by the
House and amended by the Senate
Finance Committee. His associates
generously invited him to "go to it,
in other words, to amend or rewrite
his bin to meet the Presidential views
Mr.. McCumber said to-day, however.
he did not intend to make try in this
direction. He further said he did not
expect to see the President.
II have no idea what others may
do" he said NOR what conclusions
may be reached at the conference with
the President. or course, IL the Presi-
dent should make am suggestions OF
minor character concerning my
bonus bill I would gladly consider
them. For the present am standing
by the bill as reported to the Senate,
and we are committed to its passage
after the tariff bill is out of the way.
AS far as know that program will
be carried out. I am not trying to
frame new bill and have no such
Intentions"
Inquiry among other bonus Senators
as to. new ventures in the line Of a
substitute bonus bill failed to disclose
any undertakings in this line. 1t will.
therefore, be the McCumber bill that
the Lodge committee will take to the
White House on Monday. The bonus
Senators on both sides of the cham
ber are slowly veering around to the
conclusion that despite the confidence
OF Mr.. McCumber tho bonus legisla-
tion will be postponed, IL not perma-
nently ruled out by the President.
The position OF the politicians in
the American Legion is unquestion-
ably embarrassing. They have led the
gullible service men to believe Con-
gress would be compelled to sur
render to their demands
To give up the fight now would pre-
cipitate the rebulSe that will be nd-
ministered to Legion officials at the
next convention by ex-service men
who resent the attempt to commercial
lie their patriotism. The politicians
of the Legion therefore are persisting
in their demands that the Senators
they have succeeded In coercing 50
through with the plan Of passing the
bill.