Evening star., 1922-03-20
PRESIDENT REFUSES
T0APPROvE BONUS
COMPROMISE BILL:
Republican Leaders Attempt
to Push Measure Through .
House Fails.
SUSPENSION OF RULES
IS DENIED BY GILLETT
Not Essential to Make Recommen.
dations, View Taken by Mr..
Harding at Conference.

Republican House leaders failed to-
day to obtain presidential approval of
the compromise soldiers bonus bill,
but went ahead with plans to put the
measure through the House.
Speaker. Gillett refused to permit
the measure to be brought up today
under suspension Of the rules, how
ever, and special rule will be neces-
sary for its consideration. Leaders
were to confer late today as to pro-
cedure and the time that House con-
sideration Of the bonus would begin.
Representative Mondell of Wyo-
ming and five other House members
were closeted with the President at
the White House this morning for
nearly two hours. Upon leaving the
executives office Mr.. Mondell issued
this in writing:
Statement by MOndcIL
The legislative situation relating
to the bonus bill was fully pre-
seated to the President with detailed
explanation of the provisions which
remove the menace of excessive
drafts on the Treasury in the imme-
diate future and avoid ahy program
of added taxation. The President
went over the entire situation. with
an appraisal of commitments made.
He advised the committee that the
gress. and in view of expressions pre-
viously made, he did not think it es-
sential to offer any recommendation"
House leaders calling on the Presl-
dent were Representative Mondel,
Wyoming; Chairman Fordney Of the
man Campbell of the rules commit
tee; Chairman Fess of the republican
congressional committee; Chairman
Towner of the party conference. and
Representative Lonsworth of Ohio,
member of both the ways and means
and republican steering committees.
GiIlett Not Present.
Speaker Gillett also had an appoint
ment with the President, But because
Of the length Of the conference be-
tween Mr. Harding and the House
leaders the Speaker had to return to
the Capitol to preside over the House
session without seeing the executive.
Upon. reaching the Capitol the Speak
er met with the House leaders and
made known to them his decision not
to recognize Chairman Fordney To-Day
for a motion to suspend the rules anu
pass the BILL
while at the White House Mr.. Mon
dell and other members of the House
committee went over the whole bonus
situation with the President. who was
understood to have given no eX-
preston of his views on the compro-
mise measure with it's bank loan pro-
vision in lieu of the original cash pro-
posal.
The President was quoted as havin.
said that he preferred not to'make an
recommendation as to the Legislative
procedure, as the responsibility of
legislation rested with Congress. He
also was said to have indicated a
desire to study more closely the pro-
visions of the bill before determin-
ing in his own mind whether he could
approva all of its features.
Desire Suspension of Rules.
House leaders stressed their desire
that the bill be taken up under a sus-
pension of the rules. explaining that
the original bonus measure had been
put through under suspension of
the rules and that this procedure
would prevent opponents from offer
ing amendments designed to embar-
rass those in charge of the bill.
Emphasis also was laid by the leaders
on the change that had been made in
the bill since the President suggested
that the bonus either be paid with a
sales tax or the legislation postponed.
They said the bank loan provision
would remove the necessity for heavy
drafts on the Treasury and at the
same time make unnecessary any new
or added taxes.
Administration officers who have
discussed the bonus with the Pre-
sident were under the impression
that the executive had not changed
his mind with regard to the legis-
lation. These officers were of the
opinion that the compromise measure
would not be passed by the senate;
that the measure either would be
held up there or SO changed that
cash would be availible to the vet
Grams desiring it and the cost
financed either by taxes or the sale of
bonds.
When the House met today Repre-
tentative Garner of Texas. ranking
(Continued on Page 9. Column 5.)