The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1922-01-21
BONUS BILL
TO Be PUSHED
BY MAJORITY
Allied Debt Refund
ing Measure Only
Thing Ahead Of
Soldier Relief

Washington. Jan. 1S.-Senate
Republicans voted today in party
conference TO press the allied debt.
refunding bill and soldier bonus
bill, in that order. There was
agreement as to details OF the
TWO measures and the conference
adjourned until tomorrow to con-
tinue that discussion.
The vote to press the refundtng
bill was unanimous, but the con-
ference divided on the bonus meas
ure, unofficial reports giving the
result as 3 for and against. with
some opponents either absent or
Withholding their votes. Repub-
lican leaders said, however, that
the size of the majority insured
passage OF q bonus bill at this ses-
sion.
|, Viii" there was no division on
the allie1 debt bill, it developed
that the measure as reported by the
finance committee met with some
objection, inquiry being made es-
pecially as to- the reason for the
elimination OF the provision re-
quiring semi-annual payment Of in
terest on the refunded bonds Of
the debtor nations. 1t was under.
stood that Senator Borah, OF Ida
ho, and some other Republicans
were ready to join with the Demo
cratic senators in demanding that
this, provision be retained IN the
measure.
Official spokesmen for the con-
ference took pains to make it clear
that the majority senators had de-
clared for a bonus, bill and not the
particular bill which was referred
back to the senate finance commit
tee last July on the recommends
tion of President Harding Some
leaders said, however. that the
measure to be reported to the sem
ate undoubtedly would be similar
10 that one in so far as the five
ways for payment Of adjusted com-
pensation were concerned.
Most Of the discussion of the
bonus .centered around the means
Of providing. the. necessary funds
Some senators favored measure
carrying merely an obligation
against the government with pay-
ments to be made out Of current
receipts as money was available
for the purpose but it was said that
the preponderance of sentiment
was for a specific provision that
the financing be done with funds
derived from the sale OF refunded
British bonds in the United States.
This brought up the question Of
a sales tax or some other special
form of taxation. proponents OF a
sales tax arguing that some such
plan would be necessary 10 bridge
the gap between the tine of the
passage Of the bonus legislation
and the time that funds from the
sale OF the refunded British bonds
would become available. They were
understood TO have argued that
the money from the bonds might
not be available for several months
or year after the bonus bill was
passed as the refunding negotia-
tions might consume considerable
time and some time might be nec-
essary for the sale OF the bonds.
a general speeding up OF tho
work Of the senate also was said
to have been brought up with sug-
gestions for day and night sessions
Of the finance committee.
Aside from the allied debt re-
funding bill and the bonus meas
ure, the senate Will have before il
the four-power treaty, the tariff
bill and all Of the annual supply
measures az Well rs other impor-
tant matters. With congressien-
al election next November and
warm campaign in prospect from
the beginning OF early summer,
many members OF congress wish
to get away from Washington
around June !. To get through
the work before it by that time,
the senate. senators declared. must
drive ahead With fun steam from
this time on.