The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-28
WILL DENY RIGHT OF
WAY TO BONUS BILL
Continued from First Page.

| the ex-service men. That 1t Will not
be reported to the Senate in its pres
ent shape is absolutely certain. Even
| the most ardent bonus men denounce
it as unworthy of consideration.
| Estimates on the period of time IL
will take to produce a measure that
will preserve few IL any of the House
bill features vary from a month to
two months. 1t certainly will not be
presented until the tariff bill has been
disposed of, and that may not be be-
fore the first of June.
There has been no lineup on the
measure one way or the other beyond
the definition of three groups, one in
| favor, one neutral and one against.
The problem confronting the first
| group is to find a scheme for pro-
viding the revenues sufficiently at
tractive to entice enough support from
the neutral group, which finally will
be influenced by the Judgment of Pres
ident Harding.
Conspicuous in the first group are
| the members of the agricultural bloc
who are generally inclined to favor the
bonus. A large number of the mem
bers in the second group probably
would favor the bonus if it is decided
which the first group has resolutely
set its face.
Sales Tax as a WeIder.
| II the agricultural bloc should de-
eide to accept the sales tax the bonus
bill would seem to have very good
chance of getting through, because
the majority in the second group viii
| favor it under no other conditions.
| The third group, of course. is OPP
posed to the bonus on general princi-
pies, and is much more concerned
with the political features of the bonus
situation than any economic angles.
| The opposition will base its fight
against the bonus on the pledges made
| by Senators to vote for a bonus bill in
return for votes in the last and COM
ing Congressional elections.
! One of the leaders in the opposition
said to-day that he would try to. put
Senators favoring the bonus on record
| in this respect.
THE Senate made an attempt re-
Gently to expel Mr.. Newberry," he said,
"for spending an excessive sum OF
money to encourage his election as a
Senator from Michigan. voted
against him because of the moral fea-
lures involved in his case. But ii was
to his credit that he spent his own
money. Senators who made promises
to vote for the bonus in return for
political support propose TO make
every taxpayer in the United States
contribute to the payment OF his debt
to the prospective beneficiaries of the
bonus.
"There is of course a difference,
though it is subtle one. 1t would be
| improper, Of course, for these Sena-
tors who propose to use the money Of
| taxpayers to pay their personal obliga-
tions to dig into their own pockets and
| pay bonuses to soldiers who supported
| them. But that would be the square
| way OF doing 1t after all. instead of
| loading the obligation on the shoulders
| of the taxpayers OF the country"
The Democratic position on the
bonus is perplexing. The Wilson Ad-
ministration devised the war risk plan
| to take the place of bonuses and PEN
sions and every other form OF gratui-
y
Cabinet urged TIE adoption OF the war
risk plan on that ground. Yet, prob
ably several Democratic Senators are
going to vote for the bonus on the
theory that It will put the Republican
party in hole" while it is putting the
taxpayers in their own States in
deeper one.
A dozen or fifteen Democratic Sena-
tors. taking a broader view OF their
obligations will oppose the bonus for
TIE very excellent reason that they
will be In accord with the policies Of
their party and for the further one
that any bonus enterprise which will
prove a burden to the Government
will have an equally adverse effect
upon their own constituents.
Democratic Opportunity.
III the tLirty-nine Democratic Sena-
tors should finally decide TO adhere to
the policies OF their party there would
be enough Republican votes on hand
to bury the bonus beyond resurrection
and by an impressive majority. The
trouble is that number Of the Demo-
cratic Senator's. skeptical as to tie
value OF their records as legislators,
believe that they will need all the help
they can get. though some OF them
would undoubtedly win regardless Of
their attitude on the bonus question.
Until the Finance Committee has
rewritten the House measure and the
views Of President Harding arc oh
tanned there will probably be no move
made to line up the opposing forces
The Senators in the neutral group
who may finally accept bonus bin
or indicate their opposition to It viii
not declare themselves until tho Presi-
dent has lad the fullest opportunity
10 pass on the merits of the enter.
prise.
Both Republican and Democratic
Senators for and against the bonus
are In complete concurrence IN the
view that no bill will be passed BY the
Senate that docs not receive the APP
proval OF the President. The vague
gossip retailed by members of tie
lower house that the President was
both for and against the certificate
, loan bill Is absolutely discredited in
tho Senate.
----------------=--z
pufCEG rcatt-od ~, Qvstft r. fsat,nn.., ..t..