The New York herald., 1922-05-25
MCUMBER, BLOCKED
NBONUS RAID, ASKS
| help OF DEMOCRATS
Five Republicans on FL
nance Committee Stall
His Loan Scheme.
BORAH STUNS RAIDERS
Democratic Leaders Confer
To-day on Their Course
of Action.
THEIR HELP NOT ASSURED
Opposition Gains Headway and
Enlists Support Of Sena-
tor New.
THEIR HELP NOT ASSURED
BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.


Special Dispatch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c.. May "a.
For the first time in the legislative
history of the bonus raid on the public
! Treasury the promoters Of that un-
popular scheme were to-day forced
squarely on TIE defensive.
The plan of Chairman McCumber OF
| the Senate Finance Committee to win
( TIE approval of his Republican asso-
ciates for bonus bill based on a nego-
table insurance certificates scheme
/ adopted by the House failed to mate
rialize.
The reason was that FIVE of the ten
Republican Senator's. some of whom
have favored the $1,000, 100000 bonus
loot until the recent primaries, noti-
| fed the Finance Chairman that they
would do everything in their power to
block the report of his bill to the
Senate.
AS a result of their refusal, Mr.. Nc
Cumber, who is counting heavily on
the political support Of the American
Legion officials had to turn to the six
Democratic members of his COMMITTEES
4 for assistance. The meeting of Re-
publican Senators scheduled for to-day
was called off.
Cannot Count ON Democrats.
There is no assurance that the
Democratic members ofssths sEfnance
Committee will agree to provide Mr..
| McCumber with, the help he needs to
retrieve the bonus bill from the muddle
in which it is now involved. The
Democratic leaders will confer about
the matter tomorrow and decide
whether they will extend helping
Land to the Republican bonus Sena-
tors or permit the opposition to fight
II out without interference.
The inclination of Democratic SEN
ators who favor the bonus is to help
Chairman McCumber for the sole pur-
pose of putting the Republican party
in the hole" by making 1t responsible
/ for additional burdens on the already
protesting taxpayers of the country.
Mr.. McCumber. who was quite con-
fident yesterday that his bill would be
reported out to-day or tomorrow, was
confronted with other troubles which
caused him great sorrow Like the
other bonus Senators who want the
taxpayers to pay their political obli-
cations, Mr.. McCumber had underesti-
mated the strength of the opposition
TO the bonus scheme generally and to
his own bill in particular.
Since the voters of Indiana. Illinois
Pennsylvania and Oregon have ex-
pressed their condemnation of the
bonus scheme, this opposition has been
developing at an astounding rate.
Willie admitting there has been an in
crease in strength of the opposition,
Senator McCumber. Senator Curtis,
Senator Capper, Senator Lenroot and
Senator Watson repeatedly have ex-
pressed the opinion that bonus bill
would be reported to the Senate and
passed without any difficulty.
Opposition ERorts Overlooked.
In this prognostication they entirely
overlooked the fact that the opponents
of the bonus bill have been quietly
active In procuring recruits and map
ming out a program. The first an
nouncement relating to the plans OF
the opposition was made this after
noon and caused distress among sup
porters of the bonus.
II was made by Senator Borah after
ri
cratic associates who have pledged
themselves to oppose the bonus at
every turn. The statement Of tie
Idaho Senator, while emitting details
as to procedure, clearly indicates the
determination of the opposition to
adopt the methods resorted to by the
agricultural bloc to head Off the bonus
senator Borakjs announcement. which
is presented elsewhere, caused greater
perturbation to the Senators in both
parties who are clamoring for the
bonus than any single development In
the befuddled situation which has
characterized the history of the
scheme to date.
The warning contained in 1t that the
entire legislative part Of the Admins
tration program was in danger of
being wrecked through the insistence
Of bonus supporters that their pet
project be passed caused consterna-
iion among the supporters of the
ariff bill and other measures that de-
mand attention before adjournment.
1t had the further effect of winning
support for the Presidents sugges.
,ion that bonus legislation be dropped
unless financed with the sales tax. As
there is little likelihood Of acceptance
Of the sales tax idea by Western and
Southern Senators, the postponement