The New York herald., 1922-04-19

party conference.
Only thirty-five Of the sixty Rep
ence. The first test came on a prop
to instruct the Finance Committee
weeks. Senator Fernald (Me.) offered
an amendment requesting the Finance
Committee to report "a bonus Dill
within reasonable length of time"
Text or the Resolution.
On the showdown the vote was II
to 16 in favor of Senator Fernald's
amendment to the resolution. which
took the following form:
1t is the sense of this conference
the Senate should at this session
pass a soldiers bonus bill and tnat
the Republican members OF the
Finance Committee be requested to
report such bill within a reason
able time.
The resolution was adopted by
vote OF 26 to 8. The nine Senator'S
who voted against it were Calder and
Wadsworth of New York. Edge OF
New Jersey. Moses of New Hamp-
shire. Nelson of Minnesota, Newbeify
OF Michigan. Weller of Maryland. Pep
per OF Pennsylvania and Sterling or
South Dakota.
The vote did not reflect the ultimate
views Of the Senators on either side
regarding the bonus proposal. Seven
Republican Senators who declared
themselves opposed to the bonus were
absent. Senator du Pont of Delaware.
who also is opposed to the Eonus.
voted for the resolution on the ground
that the Senate should dispose of it as
soon as possible.
The opposition to the $4,000. .0Oo, 900
bonus raid developed during the dis
cussion of the matter surprised those
Senators who are eager to win the
political support of the American Le-
gion members and other ex-service
men who are clamoring for money
gratuities in payment for their politi-
cal favor.
Most Impressive Feature.
The most impressive feature af the
conference was the complete confusion
that prevailed in the minds OF Sena-
tors favoring the bonus regarding
feasible plans for financing 1t. The
question was frequently asked during
the discussion as to the position of
President Harding.
Senators who usually reflect the
opinions OF the White House called
the attention of the more jealous
bonus Senators to the Presidents
statement in his letter to Representa-
tive Fordney. chairman of the House
Ways and Means Committee. that the
only suggestion he could make to
finance the bonus was the sales tax.
Several Senator's opposed TO the
bonus questioned Senator'S Watson
and Curtis members of the Finance
Committee. regarding the scope of the
bonus bill which the committee would
probably report. The two Senator'S
declined to express any opinion. but
1t is understood they clearly indicated
the belief that the Republican major
ity In the Senate should regard the
views of the President ''as an integral
part Of any bill to be passed by the
Senate"
bill reached the Senate line on the
reasoning Of the members OF that body
regarding 1t was obtainable Prima-
rily the fact was plain that the certifi-
cate loan bill passed by the House Is
not regarded With favor by even the
most ardent advocates OF the bonus.
Complete Lnck or Harmony.
1t was further revealed that there
is a complete lack of harmony In TIE
views of Senators favoring the bonus
regarding the method that should be
employed to provide the money to
pay the stupendous debt which IL is
proposed to unload on the already
overtaxed Government and people.
Various projects for providing the
money TO pay tie bill had few sup
porters. Perhaps the largest number
OF Senators we're without conviction
employed This is the group which
favors the passage OF the bonus bill
fof reasons that are assumed to be
solely political and WHO respond to
the influences OF bonus propaganda
and threats OF political reprisals.
The Senators in this group have
clearly indicated their purpose 10 vote
for any sort ot measure regardless OF
its actual value 10 cx-service men or
the consequences 10 the Government
and the country. While most aggres-
sive, this group is by no means suffl-
GENTLY strong as to numbers to put
through bonus bill.
The impression brought from the
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