The New York herald., 1922-05-20
BONUS IS SHELVED
WITH VIEW CHANGED
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
those he already has communicated to
both, houses.
Speculation as to the next step con-
templated by the bonus Senators
covers a wide range Of conflicting
views. Chairman McCumber and other
Senators who incorrectly appraised
the political influence of the American
Legion officials would not venture q
prediction to-day on just what the FL
nance Committee Republicans will do
Admission was made by some Sena-
tors who still attach unwarranted i'm
portance to the power Of the Ameri-
can Legion officials to deliver the vote
Of that organization that sentiment
in favor Of deferring action on tie
bonus is growing very rapidly" Those
Senators who refuse to interpret the
results of the Pennsylvania primaries
at face value assert they will develop
way of bringing the measure before
the Senate and pass 1t. They do not
know how they ar, going to do it. but
apparently are determined to make an
effort In this direction with the fun
knowledge that even II their wishes
are realized any bonus bill (unless
financed with the sales tax) would
meet with prompt rejection at the
hands Of the President.
Confidence on the part Of these Sem
ators that a bonus will be passed by
both houses and become law has
been appreciably modified. The best
they seem to hope for now is that they
will be able to put a bonus bill through
the Senate in some form and return 1t
to the House of Representatives.
Inasmuch as the Senate Finance
Committee has eliminated from the
bill passed by the House most OF the
features that encouraged its passage
in that body, there ID certain to be a
protracted conflict in conference Rep
resentatives who surrendered to the
threats of political reprisals ana voted
for the Fordney bill are rapidly losing
their enthusiasm for It.
The most probable result Of an at
tempt to reconcile the differences be-
tween conferees representing the two
houses would be a deadlock. This ID
predicted by Representatives who have
squared themselves with the soldier
boys" by voting for the bonus. It IL
the purpose OF these men to insist
upon the acceptance Of the House bill
IN it's original form because Of the in
sistence Of the American Legion on
cials who dictated the framing Of the
meaSire.
Bonus claimants headed by legion
officials much rather would have the
House bill than the McCumber OF
Smoot measures, over which the Sen.
ate Finance Committee is divided. The
reason is that the House bill is re.
earded as being more liberal" thar
either Of the other projects.
Would Reverse Their Votes.
Another reason that will probably
influence the lower house TO insist or
the acceptance Of its bill IL the con.
viction of many members Of that bod,
that the Judgment OF Illinois, Indiana
and Pennsylvania voters has clearly
reflected overwhelming exposition Il
the bonus. A great many members Of
the lower house have recently ex
selves II the bonus should again re-
quire their attention.
Representative who voted agains,
the scheme In the first instance ar,
confident that a sufficient number q
their disillusioned associates Will joir
them In opposing the acceptance O.
the Senate bill and certainly provid,
enough votes to render the repassaR,
OF the bonus measure over the Presi
DENTAL veto decidedly improbable
Little doubt Is expressed by Senator,
opposed to the bonus that any efYor
In that body made to override vett
would absolutely fail.
Representative OF the bonus claim
ants who Fave spent months ant
money lobbying FOR the bonus meas
ure, admit keen disappointment ove
their failure to defeat Senator Pepper
They are much less confident nov
than they were r. week ago that {
bonus bill will ever reach the Presi
dent. although they still assert thei
conviction that one will get through
the Senate.
Spokesman for the bonus claimant
are greatly incensed against Senate
Pepper for having exposed the fallac,
about the political power OF legion Of
ficials. Decisively repudiated In tn
Pennsylvania primaries, bonus pro
moters are preparing to carry thei
nght against Mr.. Pepper into the cleo
tions.
Edwin 3. Bethlehem, Legislative
chairman of the Veterans of Foreigl
Wars and one OF the most active pro
moters OF the bonus raid, in comment
ing on the Pennsylvania results to-da,
said that many OF the ex-service mel
In Pennsylvania voted for the Demo
cratic candidate and we will carry ou
night into the fall elections and kee
Pepper out of the Senate"
John Thomas Taylor, lesislativ
agent Of the American Legion, OK
pressed ignorance OF the Pennsyl
\ vania primary results. He limited nj
comment on the bonus to the pre-
dlction that "the bonus bill will
passed very soon and the Presiden
ii -