Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-02-01
BONUS As RIDER
To ALLIED DEBT
BILL IS TABLED
Simmons Five-Way
Idea Proposed in Sen
ate; Politics Charged.
Legion Representative
Says Men Will Prefer
Cash to Assistance.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Discussion of
the long pending soldier bonus bill
was renewed Tuesday.
Before the house ways and means
committee, which by agreement Of re-
publican leaders in congress reopened
hearings, officers Of organizations Of
former service men urged immediate
action on the bill and, in reply to
questions, said that the problem of
raising the necessary funds was one
for congress to solve.
In the senate, republican leaders
frustrated attempts by the democrats
to add the bonus bill to the allied
debt refunding measure. After brief
but heated debate, the senate adopted,
AZ to %, motion by Senator Watson,
republican, of Indiana, to lay on the
table an amendment offered by Sen
ator Simmons, democrat, of North
Carolina, incorporating the "five-Way"
adjusted compensation plan.
Plan Twice Rejected
The amendment would have pro-
vided that the bonus be paid out of
the interest on the foreign debt and
that, il this should prove insufficient,
the secretary Of the treasury should
issue certificates of Indebtedness to be
redeemed out Of future interest pay
ments, or with the approval Of the
president. to sell SO much of the for
eign bonds as might be necessary.
Later, the senate rejected, AZ to 21,
an amendment by Senator Jones,
democrat, of New Mexico, which car
ried the "five-way'' plan but had no
provision for raising funds.
Opposing the Simmons amendment,
Chairman McCumber, Of the finance
committee. declared it had been de-
cided to have the bonus bill originate
in the house because it would be
revenue raising measure and that
every one knew adjusted compensa-
ton legislation would soon be enacted.
He deprecated what he called the in
lection of party politics into the ques-
tion and said he objected to adding
the bonus to the debt bill because the
president had declared his opposition
provide funds for immediate payment
to the former service men.
Three Republicans Oppose TahIino
Senator Watson, Of Indiana, cut the
discussion short by motion to lay on
the table, stating every one knew q
bonus bill soon would be passed. The
motion brought protests from the dem
ocratic side, Senator Ashurst, of Ariz-
one. Pittman. of Nevada, and others
declaring it violated the spirit of the
unanimous consent agreement. which
was designed, they said, only to limit
debate.
After considerable wrangling, the
point of, order against the motion was
overruled by Vice President Coolidge.
The senate then adopted the Watson
motion with three republicans-John-
son, Lafollette and Norris-voting
against it and two demonstrating
and Myers-supporting it.
MacNider Attacks Mellon
In his statement before the ways
and means committee, Hanford Mac
Nider, national commander of the
American Legion, attacked Secretary
Mellon for opposing the bonus legisla
ton at this time. He declared that
'instead Of opposing. this bill by point
ing out the difficulties of financing it.
Mr.. Mellon would do better to find and
suggest proper methods of raising the
money"
In case bouns bill were enacted, 50 |
per cent Of the war veterans would
take it in preference to insurance, vo-
catiOnal and home aid, and land set
tlement options Daniel T. Streck, Of |
tumwa, Iowa, legislative representative |
of the American Legion declared. If |
a bonus is authorized the committee |
was told, the American Legion expects |
to launch an intensive campaign to |
educate" former service men as to |
the most desirable provisions with |
view to having goodly percentage |
take advantage of options other than |
cash.
Mr.. Streck declared the passage Of |
an adjusted compensation bill, carrying
five options incorporated in the meas |
ure approved by the house during the
isfy'' everybody and all the war vet