The New York herald., 1922-02-18
rleadings of Republican members ol
Congress-.
Congress Is Uneasy.

COQSTeSS.
Congress Is Uneasy.
The Presidents letter provoked a
condition in both wings OF the Capitol
building to-day that was at times ex-
citing, frequently farcical and always
provocative of humor. Never were
distinguished statesmen so near the
verge of panic as those who continued
to clamor for the bonus scheme despite
The mounting waves of resentment
from the entire country. The prizes
and penalties involved are so stu
pendous as to provide all the distress
ing clements of a hideous nightmare.
The country generally is against the
bonus raid. The greatest volume o
protest ever received in Congress O..
any subject proves it beyond peidd-
venture. 1t is significant that great
number of these protests inclose edi-
torials from THE NEW York HERALD
pointing out the bad business, lack OF
common sense and injustice of the or
eanized plan to raid the national
Treasury.
Combined with the Presidents let
ter, this tremendous outpouring OF
hostile public sentiment has forced the
advocates of the bonus plan on the de-
fensive. They will make stubborn
fight to save the plan at any cost. and
The majority of the members Of the
two houses unquestionably would vote
for any form of bonus bill, no matter
how extravagant, illogical or absurd
it might be. if a vote were taken to-
day.
May Pass Bill.
Senators and Representatives who
fear the political wrath of the bonus
propagandists will go through with
every move left open TO them. and 1t
is not improbable that a measure will
be passed by the lower House and pos
sibly by the Senate. 1t is quite as
probable the President will veto such
a bill because it will not carry his
sales tax suggestions or present any
plan acceptable either to the Govern
ment or the people generally.
Evidence that the universal pro-
tests against the bonus raid are be-
ginning to exercise a SOLDERING effect
on the Congressional mind was fur
nished in many quarters to-day. Sew
eral Senator's and Representatives
who hitherto have favored the soldier
raid on the Treasury indicated a tend
oncy to revise their previous opinions.
A great many of these men began to
urge The adoption of the Presidents
suggestion that consideration of bonus
legislation be postponed until the
country is in better shape to stand the
financial drain involved.
But the large ma jority of members
in both houses. coerced by threats of
reprisals from the profea asional propa-
gandists, continued TO demand the
passage of q bonus bill regardless of
its financial terms. Their sole inter-
est in il is to exhibit the roll CALL
which will show that they have voted
for the measure. Whether the act be-
comes a law or not appears to be of
little Importance in the eyes of most
members of Congress.
senate FavOrinc Delay.
On the Senate side of the Capitol
fhe sentiment in favor of postponng
he bonus legislation seems TO be gath
oring force; on the House side il is
Just the other way. 1t was on this
side Of the national legislature that
most of the action and all Of the hupor
in the situation developed. l0'
Members who have been courageous
enough to oppose the bonus raid or
those who have been converted by the
position taken by the President re-
ported tonight that a decided swing
"wabbling' they called it--had set an
among the advocates OF the scheme.
Out of the confusion there developed
The fact that the bonus dispute has
brought about the creation of eight
distinct groups or "blocs." as they are
styled in the political vernacular Of
to-day. These in their relative order
Of Importance and numerical strength
are as follows:
/. The advocates Of a bonus at any
price and with any sort of provision
for financing, whether logical. FEAST
BILE or acceptable to the Government
and the people or not.
?. The opponents of a bonus in
any form. whose strength has grown
appreciably since the Presidents
declaration Of his position and public
opinion began to take such impress
sively hostile form in every section
of the country.
3. The advocates of the postpone
ment policy suggested by the Presi-
dent, whose numbers are also in
creasing.
Farm Groups Against Tax.
Senators and Representatives
representing agricultural districts
whp are for the bonus, but first of
All against the sales tax as a means
of providing the revenue.
;. The advocates of a sales tax for
financing the bonus, generally linn
tied to the Senators and Representa-
tives from industrial sections who
regard The method as desirable for
4. general revenue producing pur-
poses.
6. A limited number OF Senators
and Representatives who still de-
mand that any bonus bill enacted
shall provide for the use of interest
and principal on the foreign debts.
whether it can ever be collected or
not
{. The supporters OF the scheme
TO issue short time certificates or
long time bonds to add 10 the bur