The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-03-17
MAJORITY REPORT
 ON BONUS BILL IS
 FILED BY FORDNEY
California Representative, a Former Service Man, Asks for Conference of Re-
 publicans Tuesday
By AssncInted Pre..

Washington, March 16.-There were just two developments today ir the soldiers bonus muddle. One was the filing by Chairman Fordney o1 the ways and means committee o1 the majority report of the compro- mise bill, which was estimated to cost the government total of $4,098, ,719,- $50. The other was the circulation of petition by Representative Line berger of California, former serv- ice man, for a conference of House republicans for next Tuesday eve ning to discuss the bonus legislation
 Mr. Lineberger announced tonight that there were 60 signatures to the petition or 10 moro than the number required under the rules for confer snce. He added. however, that he hoped 1t would not be necessary to present the petition to Representa- tive Towner, chairman of the republican House organization Its presentation, he addsd, would depend on the out come of the conference between House leaders and Speaker GAlIett re- garding procedure for the calling up of tho bill on the floor.
 Would Present Petition
 If there is decision at that confer ence to consider the bill under a sus- pension Of the rules. Mir. Lineberger said the petition would be presented There was some speculation as to whether a formal conference call would operate to delay consideration of the legislatton. Chairman Ford ney declared emphatically that 1t still was his determination to bring the bill up Monday under a suspension of the rules, if that could be done, and 1T not, to call 1t up Tuesday under a special rule If such rule gould be obtained.
 Speaker Gillett is due to arrive here tomorrow from Florida, one day ahead of the original schedule and at that time the question of whether the bill will be taken up Monday prob ably will be settled. MT. Fordney said the conference with the speaker would 'be in perfect harmony" and that If MT. Gillett held against a sus- pension of the rules he would pro- ceed with plans to bring the measure up under special rule
 Would Limit Debate
 The chairman went on to say that 1t was not desired to limit debate, that 1T the measure were taken up under a suspension of the rules he would ask unanimous consent for two days 9fediscussion whton would throw the final vote over until late Tuesday. Should his request be de- nied, debate would be limited to 70 minutes under the House rules.
 The majority report on the bill was approved by all of the republicans of the ways and means committe except two, Representative Treadway of Massachusetts and Tflson of Connecti- cut, who voted against the measure in committee and who were not present at the session of the majority today when the report was finally revised.
 The estimate In the report that the total cost of the bonus would be s4,- 0ss,71s.35o was based upon tho as- sumption that TO per cent of the A. 45S,1S9 veterans who would be eligi- ble for compensation would accept adjusted service certificates; 2H per cent vocational traiaing aid: 10 per cent farm and home aid, and 7h per cent land settlement aid. The re- maining 10 per cent would be paid in cash after passage of the bill under a provision requiring veterans whose adjusted compensation would not ex- ceed $50 to accept cash.
 Total Cost of Plan
 Total costs under the various op- tions of the bill were estimated as follows: Cash payments s16.ooo. 900; certificates, on account of deaths, $577,571. .0o0. and on account of ma turity sS.154,s23,s5o; vocational train ing s52.325.ooo: farm and home aid. $1s6. ooo, 900 and land settlement $112,- 900, 900.
 The greatest cost in any single year was estimated at $s,154 ,s2s.35o in the fiscal year 1943 when the certificates then outstanding would mature. The costs under all other options except the certificates, would cease, the re- port said, in 1927. The last pay ments under vocational training would be in 1s26; under farm and home aid. in 1926 and under land set clement in 1927. After that time the
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