Evening journal., 1922-06-06
VETO OF BONUS
BILL FORECAST
tcontInuea From First Pagel

with omissions OF extraordinary I'M
portance.
Still. some OF the bonus promot-
ers. appreciating the frenzied desire
TO win the political influence which
they claim to possess, thought they
would be fully within their rights In
demanding the highest honors in
return for their prospective sup
port OF Individual Senatorial ambi-
tions A flock of expert movie op-
orators were retained TO immortalize
the s;solemn ceremonies" and Incl
dentally for use in helping out
friendly Senators whose seats are In
jeopardy There will be no use for
them now
When Mr. McCumber presents his
bill and arguments there probably
will be greater need for a pulmotor
to Initiate It with sufficient vitality
TO resist the vigorous attacks which
will be made on IT, Seventy-five
days have gone by since the House
passed the Fordney-Mondell meas
ure. IN which Senator McCumber and
his associates have made a few com
paratively unimportant changes.
When the bill went 10 the Senate
on March 22 Mr. McCumber pre-
dicted II would be reported and
passed by the Senate in ten day
The confidence OF the Finance
chairman and officials of the Ameri-
can Legion, who are demanding
covernment cash, has been disturb
ed on more than one occasion by the
nersistent opposition OF the Presi-
dent 10 any bonus, bill that does not
carry a revnue producing provision
and nv the substantial increase In |
the number OF Senators who nave
followed his lead.
Further evidence that the Presi-
dent has not been influenced 20
change the opinion previously ex-
messed by him regarding the bonus
was communicated TO the Senate
leaders today by an associate who
discussed the matter with the Presi-
dent. The Senator, who is an inti-
mate friend of the President, told
his colleagues this. morning that the
McCumber bill is wholly objection
able TO the Executive. The Sena-
torial envoy also intimated that the
President is at loss to account for
the persistency with which Senators
supporting the bonus continue 10
misunderstood his position and TO
attribute TO him any uncertainty in
the matter
Presidents Stand Unchanged
"The President has not changed
his position in the slightest degree
was the statement made by the Sen
ator. who obtained his Information
at the White House, where he dis
cussed the plans OF the bonus pro-
moters to put through the McCum-
Der bill. He supplemented II with
the statement that the President was
determined TO exercise his veto |
power, IL the Senate sends to him /
the measure which he has repeat
edly condemned.
The correctness of this state
rnent was not challenged by even
the most ardent bonus Senators, |
whose sole concern is to get them
selves on record in favor OF grant
ing Government cash for able
bodied ex-service men in order to
win their political favor.
Another statement made by the
Senator was that the President
would publicly announce his deter
unless the reports rejecting on his s
motives we're discontinued. The !
President has preserved character {
istic' patience in discussing the plans b
OF Senators and Representatives who $
attach unwarranted importance TO d
the political powers OF the American
Legion. He has done so because of a
his sympathy for any movement de- a
signed to relieve the needs of men S
who served the country in the world b
war and with any project TO prove h
he gratitude of the Government fl
md people. Il
Having these things in mind, the II
President has, and will continue 10 n
insist. that the Government make II
he most generous provision for the bi
Manned sick and disabled soldiers p
1very measure of this description s,
as received his fullest approval fu
he Government has already ex-
ended more than $500, ,000. 900 in to
rovfding for disabled veterans, and IA
he annual appropriations for the Sc
urpose exceed any other item in tn
he national budget. TT
Every Senator and Representative ca
he President knows of his sym
,athy for the disabled veterans. of
they also know that II the financial re
conditions of the country permitted by
I he would approve a measure to tn
Civ bonus to such service men as DC
are now demanding Il. tn
The President has made II unmie- cl
takably clear that the country is not 10
IN condition to justify such extrav- pi
agance without imposing a stupend-
Gus burden of taxation. He has
fully set forth reasons to Justify his
opinion in this respect in written D.
communications to Congress and llo
oral statements 10 Senators and c
Representative. n
There is pronounced feeling I
among members OF Congress that 0
the Presidents patience has been Sc I
verely taxed by the repetition and
wholly unjustified predictions that
he would ultimately be brought TO
accept bonus bill that fails 10 meet '
the conditions set up by him. His
reply to suggestions that he publicly
declare his purpose TO veto the Nc
-umber or any other measure that I
1oes not meet these conditions was
hat he did not want TO be put in the 6
ttitude of interfering with legisla- a
ion or to assume the responsibility 2
or acts that are purely Congress :
ional in character.
The effect OF the information
rought from the White House by
enator who was supposed to speak
ith authority greatly disturbed Mr..
\