The New York herald., 1922-04-23
Projects Based on Sugges-
'tions Of Hoover, Calder,
Frelinghuysen, Smoot.
M'CUMBER WANTS CASH
Also Would Hear Nobody but
Legion Officials on Treas
ury Raid.
By LOUIS sErBoLD.

sSscsds Dsspotch to THE New York HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
washington. ID. c.. April e2.
Here 10 the prevailing view of the
bonus raid on the public treasury, ex-
pressed By Senators who are in favor
ef the scheme:
u would be a waste OF time for
~ 70 pass legislation which would be
Questionable to the American Legion
Porter J. McCumber (candiG tie for
feelection). chairman of the Senate
Finance Committee, made the remark.
Uhe North Dakota Senator explained
that he did not see any reason for in
wiling the representatives of any other
interests involved to appear before his
committee next week to discuss the
certificate loan bill passed by the
J House Of Representatives by gag
rule processes.
Therefore. it is not the purpose OF
the Republican members of the com
mittee. who will exclude the Demo-
cratic Senators, to request Secretary
Mellon and other officials of the Treas
ury Department, representatives Of
farm organizations. business enter
prises and citizens generally to offer
suggestions or present protests against
the bonus.
Alone Entitled to- Pass ON Bill.
As far as the bonus Senator's who
are candidates for reelection are con-
cerned the American Legion alone is
entitled to pass upon bonus legislation
President Harding Is not even to be
consulted IL the bonus Senator's have
their way until bill has been pro-
duced and sent along it's merry way
through the Senate The plan to
ignore the views of tho President and
Treasury officials is likely to go awry
because great many Senator's who
are inclined to vote for the bonus have
instanced their determination to in
vite the fullest official light and ex-
pert Judgment on any legislation that
may be proposed.
Senator McCumber and his asso-
ciates. whose chief interest in the
bonus raid is to win for Congressional
candidates the votes of the clamorous
element among the $4,000 member OF
the American Legion--accordin TO
Senators Borah and Moses (Rep.) and
Williams (Dem.) .)--apparentl do not
appreciate the wisdom Of inviting crit
icism, OF the scheme that may be con-
cocted.
People 10 Take Their Medicine.
At any rate. il IS not the present
purpose OF bonus Senators who are
candidates for reelection and their
supporters to request any assistance
or elucidation from the officials OF the
Treasury Department, either as TO the
desirability or practicability of bonus
measure. Only the American Legion.
therefore, will be consulted. The ad-
herents OF this organization are to be
the benefciaries. while the people of
the country will be called on to take
their medicine and pay the bill.
Just what sort of bill will emerge
from the fog that now envelopes the
bonus project Is a matter Of conjecture.
The only thing settled is that IL the
bonus Senators seeking reelection
through the support OF the noisy mi
nority among ex-service men have
their way a bill will be framed within
the next week. the tariff bill thrust
aside and the enterprise put through
in short order.
The first discussion of the bonus
project by Republican members or the
committee was held to-day. six Re-
publicans--M McCumber. Smoot, Calder.
Frelinghuyscn. Watson and Sutherland
settled down to an analysis OF the
misfit certificate loan plan passed by
the House of Representatives more
than a month ago.
The discussion was informal and the
only thing tangible that came out Of II
was the decision practically to rewrite
the House bin In such way as TO in
sure acceptance by the House of the
measure framed by the Senate commit
tee. When this decision was commn-
nicated to member OF the House who
favors the bonus he made no attempt
TO restrain his merriment
Anything to Get Votes.
That's rich" was Ills comment
We'll pass any bill they send over "a
us as long assit Is approved by the
soldier boys and mortgages their votes
for Us in November The Senate
crowd need not worry about us not
accepting any bill they turn out over
there. Well vote for anything"
Strong sentiment Is understood to
have developed among the six Repub-
lican Senators who attended tLe con-
ference in the Finance Committee In
favor Of a paid up insurance policy to
Continued on Page Two.