The New York herald., 1922-03-16
BONUS RAIDERS PLAN
NEW HOUSE GAG RULE
Continued from First Page.

Harding and Comptroller Crissinger
before the Ways and Means Commit
lee yesterday did not make the slight
est impression on the bonus leaders.
The declarations OF the Secretary
and his associates that the bonus bill
would help the beneficiaries but injure
the country were not without favor
able effect, however. upon some MEM
bers who are less arbitrary and dog
matte than those now following the
leadership of Messrs. Fordney and
Mondell.
There Is little question that the
statements Of the Treasury officials
strengthened the opposition. The
bonus members admit this fact even
while they assert the certificate loan
feature will pass by a majority OF
four or five to one.
Swinging Against Bill.
Most of the members who have not
finally committed themselves to the
certificate loan bill appear to be
swinging against it, although they ex-
ercise great caution in declaring their
real position. Several members, in
cluding perhaps majority OF those
from New York. Pennsylvania and
other Eastern States, have settled
down to study of the bonus question
and their guarded comments indicate
their decision ultimately to vote
against it.
1t is not improbable that the gag"
rule plan decided on by Messrs. Mon
dell and Fordney will meet with con-
siderably more opposition than the
promoters of it expect. Some of the
most ardent supporters of the bonus
expressed their opposition to-day TO
the gag" rule scheme, but it was
mainly inspired by personal desire
to make speeches and probably not
because of any opposition to the prof.
ect itself.
The Fordney- Mondell scheme is cer-
tain to be stubbornly. If unsuccess-
fully, resisted. Many members have
prepared amendments to the haphaZ-
ard measure.
Several members who have pointed
out the most glaring defects in the
construction of the measure predict
that if it ever reaches the Senate it
will be completely rewritten before it
is presented for serious discussion, Of
which there is great doubt even
among the most ardent bonus mem
bers of the lower house.
Senate Committee Critical.
The Senate Finance Committee, to
which the measure will be referred,
reflects scant admiration for the legis-
lative craftsmanship Of the present
House leaders. The tariff bill now
before the Finance Committee fur
nishes an example. The House passed
this bill, which was drawn by Mr..
Fordney and his associates on the
Ways and Means Committee, last
august. 1t has been held in the
Finance Committee ever since.
According to reliable information
the measure has practically been re-
written from title to enacting clause.
because it was held by the Senatorial
experts to be amateurish, slipshod,
haphazard and a good many other
things that do not reflect a high de-
gree of Senatorial admiration for leg
islative skill on the part of the House
leaders.
The House leaders, while resenting
this superior" and "oracular"g atti-
tude on the part of the Senate, are
not at all concerned over the treat
ment of the bonus measure. They
really do not care what happens to
il after they have individually re-
corded themselves in favor OF paying
81. 600. .000, 900 out of an empty Treas
ury and merited the questionable sup
port OF "the soldier boys
A far as the Senate is concerned,
there does not appear to be the slight
est doubt in the minds Of TIE leaders
of both parties there as to the fate OF
any bonus bill the House sends along.
For one thing, II will not be rushed:
for another. it will come in for full and
unlimited discussion and be confronted
with obstacles that can scarcely be
negotiated during the present session.
Double Face shown.
The most repreLensible feature OF
this fact is that the bonus members OF
the House know the Senate situation
as well as any one who has taken the
trouble TO inquire into 1t. Not few OF
them hope the Senate does "kill' tie
certificate loan bill after 1t reaches
that body. The House view OF this
phase OF the matter was pretty clearly
indicated tonight by bonus member
OF the House, who said: Let me vote
in favor of II so I'll get tie votes of
the soldiers and don't care whoop
what they do with the bonus bill
He supplemented this statement
with the declaration that IF we had a
secret ballot in the House | don't be-
lieve 80 members out Of the 435 mem
bers would vote for IL. / know damn
well wouldn't"
Opposition TO the bonus bill came
from another executive department
to-day. General Work,