The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-01-25
DISREGARD
MELLON ON
BONUS BILL
To Originate in House-Will
Be Drafted at Once-To
Enact Tariff Bill Before
Session Ends.
AGREEMENT REACHED
(By Associated Press)


WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-Assurance
that the permanent tariff bill will be
reported to the senate early in Febru-
ary and passed before the close OF
the present session was given Repub-
lican leaders in the house by senate
Republican leaders at conference to-
day.
Agreement was reached at the con-
ference that the proposed soldier bo-
nus bill should originate in the house.
House leaders said a measure would
be drafted at once by the ways and
means committee and probably re-
ported to the house in two weeks.
House members who attended the
conference reported that they insisted
the legislation program be speeded up
so that congress could adjourn by
June, and said that senate leaders ex-
pressed themselves as hoping that all
important legislation could be dis
posed of at that time.
Leaders of both houses were said
to have agreed that senate considera-
ton of the armament treaties should
not interfere with enactment of the
permanent tariff bill or the annual ap-
preparations bill.
Stand on Treaties.
Suggestions were made, it is under.
stood, that the senate either dispose
of the treaties, within the next two
months, before the final rush caused
| by debate on supply measures, and
! the tariff bill begins, or wait to take
| them up at a special session OF the
senate. The suggestions have been re-
| ceived faVorably by some OF the SEN
ate leaders, and opposed by others.
| Beyond the decision TO have the
! bonus bill originate in the house, the
handling of that measure, was not
| finally determined at today's confer
ence, which it was announced will be
| followed by frequent meetings of the
steering committees of the two houses
/ in the future. The bonus bill viii be
! the subject of house republican con-
/ ference tomorrow. Despite the OBJ
stacles raised by Secretary Mellon and
! others to the bonus legislation, the
| leaders of both branches of congress
! today were said TO be in accord that
| the bill should be passed before ad-
| journment.
| Question Open.
| Whether taxes or other means 10
raise the funds would be included in
! the bill was question left open.
/ There was said to be some sentiment
among the leaders to pass bill grant
ing the bonus, and leave until the next
session provisions for meeting the
obligation.
| The treaSury's reasons for contln-
ued opposition to the bonus were
transmitted in a letter from Secretary
Mellon to Chairman Fordney of the
house ways and means committee.
Writing to NJ Fordney yesterday in
response to request for an express
sion of the departments views, Secre-
tary Mellon declared that any attempt
to provide for the bonus through use
of the principal and interest of the
foreign debt to this country would be
futile as we'll as unwise," and thai
an attempt to do so through new gov
ernment borrowings would be dan
gerous in the extreme"
If there is to be a bonus, however,
the secretary said, it must be pro-
vided for through taxation, and
through taxation in addition to the
! taxes imposed by existing laws"
Expects Deficit.
: Estimates of government receipts
and expenditures Tor the flscal years
1922 and 1928 showed there would
more probably be deficit than a
: surplus. he said, and there had been
, no allowance for such additional ex
penditure as would be involved in a
soldiers bonus for the first two years
On the most conservative estimates
= he said, this would probably be not
less than $S50,000, 900.
In disposing of the congested senate
calendar some leaders at today's con
ference urged that the farmers co
: operative marketing bill be next
pressed in the senate after disposal oil
the pending allied debt bill.
This was not determined definitely
but was said to be probable. The con.
ference today was attended by Speak
er Gillett, Representative Mondell, Re
publican floor leader, and steering
committee members of both houses.