The New York herald., 1922-03-22


record themselves in favor of the n
what happens to 1t. The fact is that
sentatives who will vote for the mea
the bill actually passes that body or
is rejected so long as the roll call
shows them on the AYE" side.
Bare Chance to Block II.
1t is not impossible, though
scarcely probable, that under the
course Of procedure to be adopted
sufficient number of members Of the
House may combine to prevent it
reaching the Senate.
After much wire pulling and ma
nipulating to-day Speaker Gillett
finally consented to the Mondell-
Fordney scheme to report new rule
designating Thursday as suspension
day to permit the railroading of the
bonus measure through after four
hours Of debate.
Under this procedure a two-thirds
majority will be necessary to pass the
bill, no amendments will be permitted.
and even motions to recommit will be
denied. The majority leaders OF the
House are proceeding on the assuinp-
ton that at least 290 of tie 49, mem
bers will vote for the bonus raid. They
concede q maximum of sixty votes to
the opposition.
Members OF both parties who accept
the views of the President and off,
cials of the Treasury. and who are
mindful of the tremendous popular OPP
position to the bonus scheme. predict
that a surprise is in store for the Re
publican leaders.
A large number of Representatives
greatly in excess of the majority's es-
innate are known TO be reserving their
final decision until the roll call.
Whether enough of them will ignore
the political reasons which influence
the great majority Of members only
the roll call will disclose.
Eject of Harding's stand.
The refusal OF the President to
bulge from his former position that a
sales tax should be adopted to finance
the $4,000, 100000 bonus raid or the
legislation abandoned undoubtedly has
alienated many votes from the certifi-
cate loan plan. Just how many is
problematical.
Democratic Representatives who
were inclined to favor the bonus also
displayed a tendency to-day to revise
their first estimate. This change in
sentiment was mainly inspired by re-
sentiment against the tactics employed
by the Republican leaders in framing
the mon partisan bill without Demo
cratic cooperation and for the further
reason tkat the plan TO jam the meas
ure through the House will prevent
the introduction Of amendments ia
vored by their leaders.
Another element OF uncertainty in
jected into the situation to-day was
the attitude OF officials OF the Ameri-
can Legion and those Of the Veterans
Of Foreign Wars Association, who
still are clamoring for TIE restoration
OF the cash bonus feature thrown out
by the Republicans OF the House
Ways and Means Committee.
The leaders OF these two associa-
tions. which have been most conspicu-
Gus in promoting the bonus raid. be-
lieved until this afternoon tkat an
opportunity would be provided 10
their champions in the lower house
to demand the restoration or the cash
feature. which 90 per cent. OF the
claimants desire.
Admit Great disappointment.
The bonus propagandists admit
great disappointment over the inaccu-
racy OF the predictions made by Con-
gressional leaders that the President
would be brought into line for the
bonus. despite his previous declaration.
They blame their good friends in Con-
gress for deceiving them in this re-
spect. and the situation has naturally
tended TO dampen confidence regard
ing eventualities.
What seemed walkover' said
one OF TIE legion officials tonight.
'has turned out 10 be the hardest kind
OF fight and one that may be lost,
though l still think we will win
Confronted with the opposition OF
the White House and Tie pessimistic
views of Senate leaders regarding
bonus prospects, the promoters Of the