The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-04-20

a half billion dollars Congress is on the
verge of passing a soldiers compensation
bill. as well as other measures for rivers
and harbors. Nobody knows how much
higher the deficit may go though officials
estimate that if the soldier bonus Dill
should become law the amount OF the
deficit may reach a billion dollars.
President Harding is deeply concerned
over the situation He may read spe-
ciaI message to congress in an EFFORT not
only to secure greater economy on exist
ing aDpropriation bills. but to head on
the soldier bonus. The action of the SEN
ate Republican caucus III voting 10 nave
a soldier bonus bill passed at TINS seoSL9 IN
preciptates the issue. No speclhc Dill
was advocated by the caucus and the res
olution can be interpreted, if the Republ-
cans choose. as a vote IN favor OF
bonus bill without forms of compensation
besides cash or borrowing, such as lana
grants vocational aid, etc, The group
i'm the senate which favOrs the house bill
will not let that be the Interpretation
without a vigorous fight. Before the
climax comes, however, several develop
ments may be looked for, among them
reiteration of the governments nnanclal
situation i'm an address by the president
to the senate. Mr.. Harding knows that
today it would be passed by an over
whelming majority. The swing in sentl-
ment i'm the senate towards passage OF
bonus bill with money in it for the ser
vicemen has been gradual. Talk OF
! burying the bill in the senate has been
| swept aside by the activity of the bonus
! adherents who threaten to jam the whole
! legislature program unless they get a
| vote on the bonus Once the measure is
up for vote there will be few who will
| dare to go on record against it. Under
| these circumstances. Mr.. Hardings only
| chance to prevent the passage OF the
| house bill or any measure which further
| drains the treasury lies in message set
ting forth the financial situation OK
| plictly.
1t is feared this may injure the chances
! of the Republican majority in the com
| ing elections because Mr.. Harding viii
! have to state publicly that the admins
tratiOn faces a half billion dollar deficit
and that the economy program started
out so auspiciously with Director Dawes
| has failed to balance the budget for 1923
Chance VIII Be Greater.
Mr. Mellon. however, has already dis
| closed the painful facts so that from
political viewpoint Mr.. Harding will no
be able to erase the impression thus ia
made by the announcement of a han bll
lion dollar deficit. Unless Mr.. Hardin
is able to exercise further control owe
his party in the senate theechances ar
the deficit for 1923 will grow larger. $
the executive is compelled by circum
stances to call a halt toward further eS
penditure.
In many respects the fight that is i
progress looks as if it will bring the turI
ing point in the Harding administrator
The President has not given vent tc h
feelings over the continued Indifference {
congress to his expressed wishes He an
, his cabinet had to fight hard to owe
: throw Il naval committees recommend;
ton in the house last week and the execl
! tive is being encouraged to use his infll
, ence even further to secure cOngressiOni
acquiescence in his viewpoint.
! CuriOusly enough most members of co
gress expect Mr.. Harding to surrender
them on the bonus issue and they insi
that deficit or no deficit he will have