New-York tribune., 1922-06-06
Bonus Bill Veto
Certain Unless
Fund Is Fixed
President Sends Informal
Message to Senators He
Will Reject McCumber
Bill as II Now Stands
ReyenueMust BeProvided
Announcement of Harding's
Firm Stand Causes FURRY
Among Supporters of Bill

From The TribYHs's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON. June 5.-Presidens
Harding has let l. be known within
the last few days that il the soldiers
bonus bin passes in the form in which
IL is now pending in the Senate he
will veto r.. While he has not sent a
formal message 20 Senator'S 70 this
effect. he has sent an informal mes
sage through one or more Administra-
tion Senator's which admits Of no
doubt or cquivocstion
The President stands just where ne
has told Senator'S and House members
before that he stood. lie Is against
any bonus measure which does not
provide for some method Of raising
the funds needed 70 meet the bonus.
Heretofore there has been more or less
doubt and uncertainty whether the
President meant to 20 to the point Of
vetoing the bill unless accompanied by
revenue.raising provision. Now there
is no doubt as 20 the Executive
attitude
A leading Administration Senator
who was with the President Sunday
and had long talk with him about the
bonus. was specifically informed that
the McCumber bill as II stands will
be vetoed. The fact beeame Known,
but the identity OF the Senator sls
not officially established Other Ad'
ministration Senator'S haze obtaine~ a
like impression.
Furry Among Supporters
Meantime the information has been
widely circulated through the Senate
that the President has taken q fat
position against the McCumber bill as
IL stands and that he means to veto IT,
This has caused furry in the ranks
Of the bonus supporters.
The President, Il appears, has not
sent letter 10 the Finance Committee
leaders opposing the McCumber bill
since they conferred with him, because
he does not want to lay himself open
20 criticism Of interfering too much
with legislation. However. he is said
TO be much surprised that the Finance
Committee leaders. knowing his atti-
tude, have gone ahead. Il Is under
stood the President told the Finance
Committee leaders az the last confer
ence he had with them. several weeks
ago. that he had not changed his
views Instead Of framing a bill 90
meet his views and putting into il a
provision for raising revenue, the
Finance Committee went ahead and
ordered the McCumber measure re-
ported out.
Just what will be the effect Of the
Presidents attitude, as conveyed 10
Senators, Is not yet entirely clear. 1t
is certain the movement 20 pass a
bonus bill will not be halted. It is
expected that efforts will be made 20
formulate provision 20 raise the
revenue, and this may be attached 20
the tariff bill, as has been several
times before proposed.
Passage over Veto Unlikely
Senator McCumber has completed
his report on the McCuuber bill. II is
now in print and will probably be made
tomorrow or Wednesday 20 the Sen
ate. II was the expectation 10 make II
to-day and have guard Of honor from
the Senate OBce Building 10 the Sem
ate. This plan was abandoned.
II the bill should be passed IN a
form which would bring on the Presi-
Dental veto IL is regarded as improb-
able that enough votes could be found
20 pass IL over the veto. though opin-
IONS differ on this. ll would probably
ross over the veto in the House, but
IL is thought doubtful whether a two
thirds vote could be had in the Senate.
Senator New, Of Indiana, is under
stood % be one Of the Senator'S 20
whom the President has spoken freely
as 70 his attitude on the bonus bill.
Senator New Is departing from Wash,
ington and has arranged 4 pair against
the bonus bill. This is considered
significant Of the attitude Of the Presi-
dent.