The Washington times., 1922-08-31
HARDING READY
/. TOVETO BONUS
NOW CLAIMED
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tanned provisions for the application
Of foreign debt payments to retire
ment Of the public debt Of the Uni.
I'd States. but said that Congress
had the power TO repeal these provis-
ions. II was suggested that foreign
exchange difficulties may produce
further uncertainty in the payment
Of foreign obligations. particularly
the interest accrued on the debts Of
the various countries. The French
government. 1t is said. may base a
request for deferment Of interest
payment on the low position OF the
franc and may request that the
United States postpone collection un-
til French exchange disorders disap-
pear.
Taking sharp issue with Secretary
MELONS contention that the Treas-
sury cannot afford to finance the
soldiers bonus, Senator Lodge Of
Massachusetts,, the Republican leader.
declared In the Senate this afternoon
that 1T Ia idle and absurd for anyone
to say the pending bill will embarrass
or bankrupt the Treasury"
The disposition evinced today by
number of Senators on both sides
to deliver eleventh. hour speeches
rendered uncertain when a final
vote on the soldiers bonus bill
would be- taken by the Senate.
Republican leaders hoped to cur
tail debate sufficiently to bring
about the passage of the measure
during the afternoon, but Senator
Borah OF Idaho and others were
prepared to speak at considerable
length.
The unanimous consent agreement
restricting debate expired when the
last Of the proposed amendments
were voted on last night. and there
was nothing to prevent the flood
gates OF Senatorial oratory from
being opened unless a new agree
ment were reached.
Borah was ready to open a final
attack upon the bill by emphasiz.
ing the Industrial crisis growing
out Of the railroad and coal strikes
in support of his argument that
the country Is in no economic po-
sition to assume an additional II.
nancial burden such as he claimed
the bonus would impose, =. T..
Largely for the benefit of their
constituents back home" both
bonus opponents and proponents
threatened to keep up the debate
indefinitely, IL only because Of the
effect the final outcome of the
bonus battle is expected to have
on the November Congressional
elections. .. :.,'t e.
Anti.bonus Senators visiting the
White House circulated reports that
the President expressed surprise at
the adoption OF the McNary. land
reclamation and Simmons foreign
debt amendments, but even they
admitted that the issue would prob
ably be decided upon the. 'princi.
pie" involved by the bonus legis-
iation rather than by the form II
might take finally.
This was the view of the Presi-
dents ultimate attitude toward the
bill which was also taken by Sena-
tors supporting II, and they con-
cede that a vote to sustain or over
ride a Presidential veto Is likely
to be extremely close, although they
said they were still OF the belief
that the measure would become a
lsG. -
new argument against the bill to-
day In its present form with the
Simmons amendment, which au-
thorizes the use of foreign debt
funds to pay the bonus.
The question was raised whether
money derived from foreign indebt-
edness could be applied TO any other
usage than retirement of the pub
lh debt. The, Liberty loan act,
under which foreign credits were
extended, were being subjected to
close scrutiny today, not alone by
members OF Congress, but also by
Attorney General Daugherty and
Treasury officials.