New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-07-10
Senate Seeks
Decision This
w eek ON Bonus
Lodge, Curtis and Watson to
Tell Harding Fate Must
Be Settled Now or Party
Chances Be Imperiled
Proponents Ready to Act
Protest on Floor Forecast
IL Presidents Counsel
Is ,C.oRsssuefl rs Delay
From The rrtssne', washington Bureau

FROM 1aE drfcNaeS washington bureau
WASHINGTON. July 9.-This week
Is expected to bring decisive Develop
mcnts in tho controversy over ths sol"
diers' bonus bill. Not only will the
committee representing Sonata Repub
Iican NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Lodge, Quits
and Watson, OF Indiara---c oNfer with
the President, Offer their views on the
legislation and endeayor to obtain a
final and definite statement Of what the
President will do, but the discussion
Of the bonus measure is expected to
fare up again on the floor,
Senator La Toilette Is waiting for an
opportunity to move that the bonus
bill be taken up for consideration. Sew
eral Democratic Senators also are
swaiting like opportunity. Any day
may witness recurrence of the con
test as to whether the tariff bill shall
be sidetracked for the bonus act,
Campaign Vital Factor
The Senate leaders, through Lodge,
Curtis and Watson, intend to have a
plain and outspoken talk with the
President, according to gossip about
the Senate. They want to find out
whether there is any possibility Of an
agreement between themselves and the
President on the form of n bill, and
whether the President will veto the
McCumber measure il it is passed by
Congress. They will say to the Presi-
dent, it is understood, that to defer
action on the bill until after election
will be embarrassing to many Republi-
can candidates in Senate and House,
and if the bill must 60 over because the
Senate and White House canont agree,
special message to the Senate recon-
mending that the bill go over, and thus
take the responsibility and smooth the
political parkway for good many Re
publican Congressional candidates.
The Senate advocates Of the bonus
bill, not only Democrats but some Re-
publicans, are ready TO protest on the
floor if the conference with the Presi-
dent results in a situation that seems
to point to postponement Of the meas
ure.
The Chamber of Commerce of the
United States tonight gave out an
analysis of the Senate bonus bill and
comments on it. After dwelling on the
financial burden which the bonus would
impose, the chamber declares the pro-
visions are drawn on "a false basis"
1t says:
"By 70 per cent maj ority Of votes
cast the membership Of the National
Chamber opposes the cash and csrtih-
cate methods Of bonus payment.
Senate Report Criticized
''The Senate Finance Committee, in
its report presented with the bill,
stated that the purpose Of this bill is
to give TO the soldier who offered his
life with his service compen sati on
that will more nearly approach that of
the laborer who remained at home, Sc
cure from danger and whose compensa-
ton increased from 200 to 800 per cent,
and, measured by the amount Of labor
actually performed, a percentage far
beyond these figures
ut is unfortunate that as basis for
q bonus payment the Senate Finance
Committee takes civilian wage com
pensatlon that as whole never ex-
listed at all during the period Of the
war, but months after the war The
200 to 300 per cent increases found
during the war are the exceptional in
stances, such as certain governm eut
shipyard rates.
1T is recognized that in shipbuildina
yards and in few very special trades
calling as rule for older men, highly
skilled in precision work, there were
unusual total monthly wages because
of working overtime and because of
piecework. An extensive examination
of statistics for the period of the war
shows no such average gain as the 200
to 900 per cent referred to in the SEN
ate Finance Committee report, nor any
gain in any way approaching it.
"The war, SO far as the United
States is concerned, lasted from April,
1917, to November, 1918.
IAN examination of the statistics
prepared by the Bureau of Labor sta
tistics of the United States Depart
ment Of Labor does not show any 200
to 800 per cent advances in wages for
those who remained at home or any ad-
vance even approaching that percent
age for the actual period Of the war
The percentage of increase in average
per capita earnings from March, 1917
to November, 19ls-the period Of the
warrior thirteen principal industries
as shown by the above report was as
follows:
Boots and shoes, AZ per cent; cot