The New York herald., 1922-04-24
BONUS OPPOSITION WOULD
BAR OVERRIDING OF VETO
Continued from First Page.

its o X on the measure which the
Finance Committee will offer as sub
stitute for the makeshift loan bill
jammed through the House under
gag rule processes, 1t will be re-
ported. More than one-third of the
members of the Senate who are not
afraid OF the political power Of the
American Legion will oppose it.
There is even possibility that
enough Senators who respect the
wishes of the President and Secretary
Mellon may cause radical change
in the plans of the bonus Senators
to jam through any bill that meets
the approval of the bonus claimants.
One thing Is certain. 1t is that
there will be much stronger opposition
to the bonus scheme than the pro-
moters of the enterprise anticipate.
The overwhelming opposition to it on
the part of women as shown by THE
New York HERALD poll of the Daugh-
ters OF the American Revolution has
probably had some effect on the Sena-
torial mind. The poll showed that out
of SAG Daughters of the American
Revolution from every State interro-
gated 56S opposed the bonus and only
81 favored It,
Opposition of Farmers.
Another development which may
have some effect on the minds of
Senators Of sympathetic bonus ten
dencies or who have held a neutral
position is the increasing opposition
on the part of farmers throughout
the country.
This change of sentiment among
the agricultural elements In the popu-
lation can be directly traced to the
belated realization Of persons engaged
in the farming industry that the
bonus means heavier taxes and re-
stricted opportunities for getting loans
from the banks.
Another feature which may exer-
else some influence on the final deci-
sions OF Senators is the movement
launched in France by poilus who
served in the world war for a bonus.
This information Is in effect that II
the American soldiers succeed in get
ting more Government cash for their
military services the French soldiers
will demand the same thing.
Government officials to-day pointed
out that il the French Government
grants the demands Of its fighting men
the chance of America retrieving any
part Of the French debt will be very
remote for long time to come.
Counting ON Foreign Loans.
Supporters OF the bonus in both
houses OF Congress have counted
heavily on the repayment of the Brit
ish and French loans to finance the
bonus. Secretary Mellon has demon
strated the impracticability Of such
plan. 1t has not up to date had the
least effect on the minds Of bonus Sen
ators and Representatives, whose only
thought is to win the political support
Of the American Legion. Serious con-
sideration Of this recently developed
phase OF the bonus scheme, however,
may cause a halt on the part OF Sem
ators who have been inclined to sup
port it.
The increasing opposition to the
bonus on the part of the farmers IS
unquestionably giving some concern
among the legislative supporters Of II.
Treasury officials have estimated that
every one of the 100000 farmers in
the country will have to pay at least
500 in the form of taxes during the
next four years.
The same officials assert that the
credit Of the farming communities
would suffer a crushing blow in the
general reaction which would follow
the soldiers raid on the nations
finance. They say the operations OF
the Farm Loan Board, which are de-
signed to relieve farming conditions,
would be greatly disturbed and the
future flotations of farm loan bonds
rendered difficult. In an easy money
market these issues can be readily abb
sorbed. but the wave of initiation fol-
lowing a further drain on the Treas
ury would retard the sale Of farm loan
certificates.
Federal Loan to Farmers.
Under the latest sale Of $75,000, 900
farm loan bonds the farmers of the
country are now getting about $780,
900, 900 month in loans. Nearly all
Of this is going into the agricultural
sections OF the West and middle West.
Up to date the Government has loaned
the farmers $32S,456,701 in twenty-five
different States. Several of the most
important agricultural States, whose
spokesmen in Congress are supporting
the bonus raid, have been the chief