The New York herald., 1922-06-25
BONUS BILL FAILURE
IS seen in CLOTURE
Republican Leaders Plan
to Amend Senate Rules
to Pass Tariff.
BITTER FIGHT AHEAD
Effort Will Be Made to APP
ply Gag by a Majority
Vote.
DEMOCRATS ARE OPPOSED
Will Continue Attempts to
Bring Raid Measure Before
Chamber.
Special Dispatch to THE New YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. C. ,June pa Z

Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. June "a.
Bonus legislation was further COM
plfcated to-day by the announcement
that the Republican leaders have de-
cided to make move in the Senate
next week to apply the cloture rule
on the theory that such a gag is nee
essary to insure passage of the tariff
bill.
1t is generally conceded even among
Republicans that they cannot muster
enough votes to have the present
cloture rule, requiring a two-thirds
vote. adopted. Failing in that, how
ever. they plan an attempt to amend
the Senate rules so that cloture can
be adopted by majority vote.
Tho latter is debatable and will be
fought to the bitter end by practically
all the Democrats and some Repub-
lican Senators.
Some Democratic Senators in favor of
bonus say this latest move on the
part OF the Republicans will relegate the
bonus bill to a position where It will be
impossible to get action on 1t this ses-
sion. They point out that the proposal
to amend the Senate rules is such vio-
lation of the traditions of the Senate
ana so contrary to the spirit of that
body tnat 1t must be defeated at any
cost.
The Democrats say they undoubtedly
Will be accused of blocking both the
tariff and the bonus bill should they
indulge in extended discussion Of the
proposal to amend the Senate rules.
They propose to answer that charge by
demanding that the bonus bill be
brought squarely before the Senate be-
fore the vote is taken on the proposal
to amend the rules of the Senate.
Senator Ashurst (Ariz.), a strong ad-
vocate OF the bonus, expressed the
opinion to-day that the plan of the Re-
publcans, instead of expediting the
bonus undoubtedly will tend to delay It.
For that reason" he said. II assume
there will be efforts made during the
debate on the proposed cloture rule to
bring the bonus bill squarely before the
Senate"
Senator Walsh (Mass.) said the plan
OF the Republicans to bring in n gag
rule to limit debate on the tariff bill
gives further color to his charge that a
majority OF the Senate is not honestly in
favor of a bonus bill and for that rea-
son they are resorting to all sorts Of
methods to delay vote on the measure
He will likely take steps, he indicated,
to force an early vote on the bonus bill
Democratic Senators In favor OF
bonus bill emphasize their statements
that they are not disposed to play poll
tics with the bonus issue and that In
forcing the question In the Senate they
are imbued with the sole idea of trying
to save that measure. They say also
that the plan of the House leaders to
recess during the summer months be-
fore the bonus bill is out OF the way Is
another evidence OF the indifference OF
the Republican leaders to the fate OF
that legislation.
There is no denying the fact that the
bonus Senators on the majority side at
least are not nearly so keen for the
adjusted compensation bill' as before
the recent primary elections.
Some interesting comments are made
on that phase OF the question in an
editorial In the current issue of Ahe Dis
abicd Veteran Md0orine.
"All the attempts ~ veteran organiza-
tions 10 speak for 100000 men who
answered the CALI" says the editorial.
ARE mere pine and not justified by the
record. As a plain matter OF fact the
soldiers Of the world war are not organ
lied for political pressure. II will take
moro than n bonus issue that Is eco
nomically unsound 20 solidlfy them po-
liticaliy.
"As the rcsuplts come IN from various
polling places throughout the country
they bear concrete evidence that the
bonus agitation has been promulgated by
a blatant minority that has not been
able 20 demonstrate any cohesion at the
ballot box"