The Semi-weekly leader., 1922-09-16
ONE FEATURE MAY
DELAY BONUS BILL
REPUBLICANS ARE DETERMINED
TO LAY BONUS BEFORE THE
PRESIDENT.
BARRIER FROM The FIRST
conferees In Senate as Firmly op.
posed to Reclamation as House
confsrees For It--vitaIIy A.
fects the West.


Washington.-The reclamation feat
ure Of the bonus bill stands out as a
serious stumbling block in the way Of
an early agreement by the house and
senate conferees on that measure,
which republican leaders have deter
mined to pass and lay before the pres
ident as prerequisite to adjournment.
The magnitude Of this matter was to
obtain adjusted compensation for the
veterans reclamation has been an OBJ
stacle that could not be negotiated. A
herculean effort win be necessary
now.
President Wilson and Secretary of
the Interior Lane Immediately follow.
ing the armistice, suggested a plan for
reclamation that was pressed during
the winter Of 1888. 1t finally died
as result of the republican filibuster
that held up several appropriation bills
March 4.
When the bonus bill was presented
in the first republican congress a rec
lamation feature was carried. The re-
publicans got into several squabbles
over the matter in their caucuses and
the bill was killed.
Thereupon the measure was resur-
rected in the eth congress in virtually
its present form. 1t gave considera-
BILE trouble in the house. Finally in
the senate a provision was ineNrpor-
ated after much controversy and the
fight between house and senate con-
ferees will center largely around it.
Reports Indicate that the republican
conferees Of the senate are as firmly
opposed to reclamation as the house
conferees are for it.
Politically, it means more to repre-
sentatives than it does to senators.
Most of the western members have
virtually pledged themselves for rec
lamation Legislation.
Not only are the states with arid
lands interested, but every other state
where movements have been under
way for reclamation of arid, cutover or
swamp lands.
Charges have been made that any
reclamation legislation will rebound
to the benefit Of land holding COM
panies more than to the veterans.
President Harding has been appeal
ed to by delegations of westerners all
this year to use his influence in be-
half Of the Smith-McNary bill. The
west especially is concerned over it in
asmuch as farmers have contended
that an expansion of dry land develop
ment was necessary.
The bonus bill is the only big meas
ure in the way of adjournment, out
side, of course, the coal relief bills, as
to which little or no controversy is an
ticipated in conference.
There will be one more appropria-
tion bill to cover deficiencies. The
most important estimate pending is
for funds with which to set in motion
the mixed claims commission, the Gre
alton Of which follows the treaty ns-
gotiated with Germany for settlement
of alien property claims
Members will find it useless to at
tempt to have congress consider any
other measures. The leaders have de-
cided that the present is not the time
to take up any controversial legisla-
tion. They do not want to run the
risk of antagonizing any one on the
eve Of election.
The democrats concluded several
days ago their enegies would be vast
ed trying to have congress accept the
offer Of Henry Ford for Muscle Shoals.
The anti-lynching bill is said to be
sleeping it's last sleep in the senate,
with no prospect that it may be
aroused.
Leaders do not intend to take up
either the bill requested by the presi-
dent to enable the federal government
to apply punishment to those who
lynch aliens. This was provided for in
what was known as the Kellogg bill,
and was included partly in the anti
lynching bill.
An attempt is to be made to amend
the corrupt practices act to require
Campaign reports for this election.