The New York herald., 1922-04-21
Talk of Meeting His Objec-
tions by Financing Grab
Under Bond Plan
EAGER TO PASS THE BUCK
But, Spurred by Legion. Aim
to Jam Some Kind of Bilp
Through.
By LOUIS sEIBOLD.

By LOUIS sEIBOLD.
spee'd' Dispatch to THE NEw York HERALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. c., April 20.
Tho best minds that aspire to re-
election TO the Senate appear to be
hopelessly at sea over the bonus raid
on the public treasury and business Of
the country.
No two Senators agree as to the man
ner in which the $4,000. .o0o. 900 project
should be financed, but the Senators
who attach entirely too much impor-
tance to the political influence OF the
American Legion and outside sup
porters of the bonus scheme seem Just
as determined TO put through some
sort Of bonus bll' as they were a
week ago.
The information brought first hand
to the Capitol by Senator Watson
Ind.) that the President will disap-
prove the certificate loan plan and re-
qure a measure carrying provision for
revenue has not discouraged the bonus
promoters. 1t has merely served to
increase opposition to the makeshift
measure jammed through the House
under gag" rule processes.
The one decision reached by leaders
is that the insurance certificate loan
plan contained in the Fordney bonus
bill shall be summarily dropped That
is the only decision reached up to
date. In the meantime the muddle
over the entire bonus project Is quite
as dense as that which existed In the
lower house before the concoction OF
the discredited measure. put through
that body.
Pressure on the President.
Apparently the bonus Senator's who
are seeking reelection and their COL
leagues who want to lend a helping
hand are not entirely convinced Presi-
dent Harding will be able to resist the
pressure they intend to bring upon
him to accept a bill that does meet
the conditions stipulated by him.
One of the most amazing features of
the Senate situation over the bonus is
the tendency on the part of some OF
the most dignified and ordinarily re-
sponsible members of that body TO
lend their aid In putting through, bill
that they have the very best reason
for knowing will be pronounced un-
workable by the officials Of the Treas
ury Department and unacceptable to
the President.
The situation in this respect runs
almost parallel TO the conditions that
created a political panic among men,
bers OF the lower house and resulted
In the passage of the certificate loan
bill which Is to be thrown into the
scrap heap by the Senate.
The task now confronting TIE Sena-
tors seeking reelection with the aid of
the organized American Legion vote
is 10 frame a bill that will pass the
bonus buck back to the House and
ultimately TO the President.
A Senator who Is usually meticu-
lousy exact in demanding substantial
and logical reasons in support Of legis-
lative enterprises summed up the
situation this afternoon by saying:
We've got to pass a bonus bill. the
ma jority leaders are agreed on that.
What the House will do with Il Is an
other thing. What the President will
do with II Is still another thing. But
we've got TO pass a bonus bill TO keen
our promises and save some of our
people.
Cropping I'm n Fog.
There you have the exact situation
in the United States Senate. The ma.
jority OF members. who admit they
have no definite idea as to what sort
of bill should be passed. or what will
finally become OF IL. seem TO be as
willing TO lend their support TO a fake
proposition as we're the politically hys-
terical members OF the House OF Rep.
resentatives. The more candid OF the
Senators clamoring for the bin frankly
admit that political considerations
alone dictate their support Of the
scheme"
Convinced that the reflection OF the
Presidents views communicated by
Senator Watson was wholly reliable
the bonus Senators to-day gave an
Almost lifelike imitation OF tho ma
neuvers OF the House leaders when
the bonus raid was pending in tina,
wing OF the Capitol. They cast about
for the least Objectionable plan for
meeting the conditions prescribed nj
the White House. Up 20 tonight nc
definite proposal had loomed out OF the
fog that existed in the Senatorial mind
There we're supporters for tho out.
right cash option. stripped Of the
camouhage in which the House bill
was submerged.
The nearest approach to a program
that developed as a result Of the ma
neuverings of the bonus Senators con-