Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-05-30
'HARD|NC'S VIEW
ON b0NUS.b|LL
NOT ANNOUNCED
Canvass Suggests Mem
bers of House Commit
tee Divided on Plan.
Opponents to Any Com
pensation Expect Long
Discussion of Measure.

Washington. May 29.-Approval b!
the senate finance committee on Wed
nesday of soldiers bonus bill. fol
/ lowing closely the lines of the house
measure with its bank loan provision
was predicted Monday by members OF
that committee. republicans and dem
Ocrats, after the subject had been dis
cussed for nearly two hours.
An informal canvass of the commit
tee Monday indicated that the mem
bers were divided, 9 to 6. for the
house measure with some notifications
the so-called McCumber plan. Five
members, all republicans, were reported
to favor the Smoot proposition of life
insurance for the veterans in lieu of
all other forms Of compensation. while
one committeeman, Senator Villains,
democrat. of Mississippi. was under
stood to be opposed to any bonus legis-
lation.
Whether land reclamation provi-
sion is to be included in the McCum-
Der plan is an open question and con-
sequently it may be some time before
bonus bill is reported to the senate
Chairman McCumber is anxious, how
ever. that the bill be reported out in
the immediate future and he expects to
press for action.
After reaching the senate, the bill,
in the usual course, would go to the
senate calendar to remain until called
up by Senator McCumber. There is
a difference of opinion among repub-
lican leaders as to whether the bonus
should displace the tariff bill at any
time soon so the probable time at which
the senate will get into the bonus fight
is indefinite.
Senator McCumber is of the opinion
that the senate can dispose of the meas
ure with a few days of consideration
but this view is not shared by all lead
ers.
Opponents of a bonus in any form.
as well as opponents of the amended
house bills, are prepared for a long
discussion of the question.
Both the McCumber and Smoot plans
have been outlined in some detail to
President Harding. with Il view of OBJ
tanning an expression from him, but
the committee went ahead Monday with
its consideration without having re-
ceived any word from the executive.
Proponents of the McCumber PROPOSE
ton believe that he will approve that
form of bonus if passed by congress,
but publicly at least, the president has
given no indication of change of
mind since he told the house ways
and means committee to finance The
bonus with sales tax or postpone
enactment of the legislation.
Aside from a provision to pay cash
to veterans whose compensation would
not exceed $50. the McCumber plan
would provide for adjusted service Ger
tificates on which banks would be all-
thorized to loan funds during the first
three years and the treasury there
after during the 20 years of the life
of the certificates. The certificates
would have face value equal TO about
three times the amount of the veterans
service credit at the rate of
81 day for domestic service and 81. .25
a day for foreign service and the total
would be payable at the end of 20
years or sooner upon the death of the
holder. There also would be provisions
for vocational training and home and
farm aid