The New York herald., 1922-02-14

Means Committee still hope that the
payments OF the interest and princi-
pal of the foreign debt will take care
| in o. great measure OF the bonus and
eventually Secretary MELONS objec-
tons to that plan can be overcome.
For the time being. however, short
term Treasury bonds, to mature in
three. four or five years, but redeem
able any time. bearing interest at not
more than Az per cent, is the only
proposal under consideration.
There will be a provision in the
bonus bill that the soldiers who desire
the cash option will have to give notice
some weeks in advance OF the time
when it becomes operative, so that the
proposed bonds can be marketed in
time and the needed cash raised. Rep
resentative Longworth agrees with
Chairman Fordney that the issue
would not necessarily hurt the mar
ket for the other United states bonds.
In some quarters 1t was predicted
tonight that the President would
withhold his decision on the bond pro-
posal to await the reaction on Senator
Borah's anti-bonus speech. One Sena-
tor close to the White House said tho
President had not made up his mind
on the subject.
Senator Borah pointed out in vigor-
GUS terms the economic and financial
dangers which might follow should
Congress yield 10 the pressure being
brought to bear for bonus.
Sees Hundred Billion Cost.
In the first place. he declared 1t
would cost this Government from $751;
000. 900, 900 TO 100000. 100000 to dis
charge its obligations to the wounded
and disabled soldiers of the world war.
based on the record of civil war pen
sions. He added that the nation was
under eternal obligations TO tho
wounded soldiers. and that the first
consideration was their care and well
fare.
Senator Borah argued that to grant
a bonus TO all the soldiers who donned
a uniform In the lhst war would Sc
riously impair the industrial and eco
nomic life OF the nation that the
Government might find IL very difficult
properly to care for the wounded and
disabled in the future. lie declared
that for many years TO come the de-
mands foi the wounded would bo on
the increase and the nation must meet
their needs. On the other hand. he
argued that the man who was drafted
into the army did not deserve any
bonus any more than the man who
stayed at home, due to enforced cir
cumstances and contributed his mite
TO the winning of the war. Further
more. he said. the work at home was
Just as essential 10 victory as that
performed by the soldiers in the field
Senator Jones IN. NJ took issue
with Senator Borah. who referred to
the bonus as a "gratuity," saying a
more appropriate term would be "ad-
justed compensation"
sticks to "Grntuity."
Compensation for what?" shot
back Senator Borah. "Do you mean
to Insult the men who fought in the
war BY Offering them for their SER
vices less than you pay your stable
boy or the charwomen working at the
Capitol? | prefer 60 call IL n gratuity
from the hearts of the American peo-
pie. You cannot Justify Il on any
other grounds. and the soldiers should
not be willing TO accept 1t on any
other terms"
Senator Glass (Va). Democrat. In
dicated by question that he agreed
with Senator Borah in many respects
concerning the bonus. Other leading
Senators are expected to join hi
standard. Including Senator's Under
wood tAla), Pepper. tPa). Walsh