New-York tribune., 1922-03-21
House Leaders Are Told
Task Belongs to Con-
gress; Refuses to Add
to Previous Statement
Agreement Reached
For Vote Thursday
tordney Bill Supporters
Assert They No Longer
Are Fearful of Veto

WASHINGTON, March 2O.-Atter
two-hour White House conference,
which failed to develop the hoped for
Executive approval of the compromise
bonus bill, and after joint meeting
later at the Capitol of Republican lead
crs, the House tonight was still CROP
ing for solution of its bonus troubles.
lhe only progress made to-day toward
consideration by the House of the
fordney Dill was an agreement with
Speaker Gillett that the measure should
be called up on next Thursday. An at
tempt will be made at another House
conference tomorrow to determine the
method under which it will be consid-
cred.
The Speaker was unwavering in his
determination to prevent passage of
the Dill under the "gag" rule day.
The expectation of Majority Leader
Mondell and Chairman Fordney that
the days developments would force a
situation making possible passage Of
the bill to-day was abandoned early,
and the House remained in session only
fifty minutes. Mr. Gillett, upon inquiry
on the floor by Representative John
Garner, Of Texas, ranking minority
member of the Ways and Means Com
mittee, said he would recognize no one
who sought to bring t. measure up
tod day.
Hope Gillett Will Yield
Following th~ .ernoon's confer
ence, however. =, veral who partic cipated
expressed the belief that Mr.. Gillett
had been satisfied that a majority of
members supported the rule suspen-
sion plan and would permit the pro
cedure on Thursday. While the Speak
er did not confirm this, he contented
himself with saying, II have not stated
would recognize any one" He insist
ed that the situation remains as un-
settled as it has BEEN" pending the
conference tomorrow with Chairman
Campbell of the Rules Committee and
several others con the details of the
rule"
Instead of obtaining from President
Harding this morning an indication
that he does not oppose the present
bill, Mr. Mondell and the five other
House members who were closeted with
him for two hours said he maintained
the attitude that the responsibility
rested entirely with Congress and that
the Executive could not pass judgment
on the measure until presented to him
for signature. The majority leader
gave out a prepared statement as the
delegation left the White House. 1t
sad
"The legislative situation relating
to the bonus was fully presented to
the President, with detailed explana-
tion of the provisions which removed
the menace of excessive drafts on the
Treasury in the immediate future and
avoids any program of added taxation
The President went over the entire
situation with an appraisal of commit
ments made. He advised the commit
tee that the legislation is a response
bility of Congress and in view of ex-
pressions previously made he did not
think it essential to offer any recon-
mendations."
See Chance to Avoid Veto
Mr.. Mondell subsequently, said his
| personal opinion was that the bill
meets, the objections made by the
President to the original Fordney bill,
and others with him declared they be-
lieved "the logic of the thing pointed
against Presidential Veto"
Because of the extreme length Of
this session, Speaker Gillett, who had
an engagement with the President at
II o'clock, which was overlapped by
the earlier House visitors, departed
for the Capitol as the convening time
approached without seeing Mr.. Har-
ding.
It was indicated tonight by Mr.
Mondell and others of the steering
committee and Ways and Means Com
mittee that they are confident the
bonus measure can be taken up and
passed on Thursday, which will be
made special suspension day. They
plan to permit liberal debate on both
sides, but head off completely any at
tempts to amend the bill or a move
ment to recommit it.
"To-morrow we shall reach deci-
sion-possibly by noon to-morrow-as
brought up" said the floor leader after
the latest conference. "There will be
no party caucus It will undoubtedly
be brought up this week, probably not
later than Thursday"
Details Arranged To-day
Further details will be arranged
tom orrow morning" added Chairman
Campbell of the Rules Committee, "be
tween the Speaker and myself. 1t will
probably be Thursday. The idea is te
have ample debate, but dispose of the
bill the same day. The Speakers at
titude, think, has been that he mus
be shown a majority are for the sus
pension. My personal opinion is NJ
has been satisfied.
1--WE will not bring in any rule tha
does not reflect the opinions and de
sires of the majority of the House"
Representative William R. Wood. Re
publican, of Indiana, another caller a
the Presidents Office, told the Chic.
Executive that on a recent trip through
the Middle Western states he fount
that the great majority Of the peopl
in that section were opposed to th
bonus legislation and wanted to know
how it is to be paid.
Other callers at the White House t.
discuss the bonus with the Presiden
were Representatives Mills, Of New
York; Treadway, of Massachusetts, an
Tilson, of Connecticut, all members o
the Ways and Means Committee.
The Democratic members of tn
WAYS and Means Committee filed to
day their report on the bill. They sal
they would support the legislation, bu
demanded that cash bonus be in
cluded and that the surtax on large in
| comes and excess profits taxes he re
stored to pay the freight