The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-08
HARDING MEETS
CAPITOL CHIEFS
ANDAGREEMENT
0NLAW REACHED
Leaders Turn Down Plan to
Have Money Raised by
Foreign Debt.
DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PLANS
Tariff and Other important
Measures to Be Rushed
Through by Chiefs.
DISCUSS LEGISLATIVE PLANS
BY J. BART CAMPBELL,
Internationl News Service.

Internationl News service.
The early passage of a soldiers
bonus bill was agred upon at a con-
ference between President Harding
and Republican leaders Of Congress
ut the White House last night. ,
Secretary Of War Weeks. Attor-
ney General Daugherty. and Repub-
lican National Committeeman John
T. Adams. also participated in the
conference.
Plans Are Discussed.
, The various plans for financing ad-
ljusted compensation for ex-service
men included the diversion OF whatever
interest may be collected on a foreign
debt. the sale Of bonds, and the i'm
position of q sales tax. While 1t was
said that no definite conclusions were
reached as to what method would be
employed to finance a soldiers bonus,
the concensus of opinion was that one
II was also understood that 1t was
agreed. at the suggestion Of the Presi-
dent. that the foreign debt refunding
bill should be reported by the Senate
Finance Committee in practically the
same form in which It was passed by
the House.
| While opposition to this plan was
anticipated most Of the Republican
leaders were said to have decided that
the provision for the semi-annual pay
ment Of interest due on the foreign
debt should be eliminated.
Yield to Mellon.
II was this provision to which Sec
retary Melon strongly objected after
it's adoption by the Senate Finance
Committee recently. and it was under
stood that the President took the same
unfavorable view Of 1t that Mellon did
In his discussion Of 1t with those who
participated in last nights conference.
Republican leaders expressed conf
dence in their ability to work out a
plan that would bring about a satisfac-
tory solution Of the difficulties in the
way of the early enactment Of both
soldiers bonus and foreign debt legis-
lation.
No statement was forthcoming from
the President himself.
Payment May Be Slow.
The chief obstacle in the way Of the
new bonus plan, 1t was said is the un-
certainty as to when the foreign ma
tions may be expected to begin maxi
ing payments Of interest long overdue.
1T would be useless to pass a SOL
| cIer bill II the veterans have to wait
several years for their compensation"
said Senator Simmons.
Republican members of the Senate
Finance Committee were confident
last night that the difference of opin-
ION existing between Secretary Of the
Treasury Mellon and the committee
with respect to the fixing Of a time
for the payment Of interest due on
the foreign debts would be smoothed
out.
The foreign debt bill was amended
by the committee to provide for semi
annual payments Of interest. Mellon
is opposed to this and has informed
the committee that rather than accept
II he would prefer not to have any
nov foreign debt legislation at all. Re-
publican and Democratic members Of
Congress are alike insistent. however,
that payments OF 10th principal and
interest should be fixed within a
definite period.
TIE fear that the United States
may he unable 10 collect even interest