Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-03-14
WHOLE QUESTION
Of VOTE ON THE
SOLDIER BONUS
BILL IS IN Mr.
Inability to Ascertain
Whether Speaker Will
Suspend the Rules Next
Monday May Delay Action
2 REPRESENTATIVES
OPPOSED TO MEASURE
TreadWeII, Republican, and
HaWeS, Democrat EX-
press 0ppoSitiOni Frear
Replies to Mellon.

Washington, March 1S.-Repub.
llican leaders We're confronted tuday
with the possibility that they might
| be unable to bring about vote IN
the house on the compromise SOL
Idiers bonus bill under suspension
! Cf the rules next Monday. With
! Favorable report OF the measure by
the ways and mean9 committee
promised by Chairman Fordney
they generally were agreed that
the bill should be disposed of by
the house early next week.
Inability, however, to ascertain
whether Speaker Gillett, who is IN
Florida with President Harding.
would entertain motion to sus-
pend the rules, which would re-
quire a two-thirds vote for passage
of the bill, and would automatically
bar all amendments, coupled with
reports that he might decline to do
so. threw the whole question of
procedure in the air.
To Proceed With Plans.
Republican members of the ways
and means committee who at
morning meeting, decided to pro-
coed with their plans for report
of the measure at the meeting OF
the full committee scheduled for
tomorrow, despite objections 10 its
provisions voiced by Secretary Mel
lon and Comptroller of the Cur
rency Crissinger, held a conference
later in the day with members OF
the republican steering committee
and several others, including Repre-
sentative Walsh, Massachusetts,
acting speaker, and Representative
FcsS, Ohio, and Towner Iowa.
1t was agreed at this meeting not
to make a final decision as to pro-
cedure until the views of the
speaker could be learned. In CASE
he opposed the suspension of rules
program, 1t was said that the biz
probably would be brought UP early
next week under a rule which, al
though it would require only ma
jCrity vote on final passage, and
could be drafted to prevent amend
ments from the floor, would permit
the offering Of motion to recon
nit. Leaders said such a motion
might be designed to saddle the
bill with some drastic amendments
which was distasteful TO the pro
ponents of the measure as it now
stands.
Two Oppose Bill.
Other developments of the day
in the bonus situation were the is
suance of stt ments by two mem
bers of the house-Representative
Treadway Of Massa chusetts. a re-
publican member of the ways and
means committee, and Representa-
tive Hawes democrat, Missouri
both of whom expressed opposition
to the bonus bill, and the an
nouncement by Representative
Frear of Wisconsin, a republican
member of the ways and means
committee, that he had written
Secretary Mellon, replying" to the
letter of the treasury head to Mr..
Mr. Fordney in which Mr.. Mellon
declared the bill, If enacted, would
involve a dangerous abuse of gor-
ernment credit"
Mr.. Treadway declared it was
apparent that an effort to pass a
bonus bill at this time is futile un-
less financed by sales tax"
Want Less Taxation.
The people, he contended want
less, rather than more taxation.
"It was hoped that some salts
factory plan could be found for
properly financing payment of =
soldiers bonus without embarrass-
ment to the federal treasury" Mr. |
Treadways statement began. "The |
communication received this
morning from Secretary Mellon
shows that the new suggestion Is
as unsatisfactory as previous ones
No one can contradict the sound
logic of his argument even though |
some of the statistical information |
may not be borne out"
The Massachusetts, member held
that the new scheme having been |
proven unsound financially the |
strong advocates of the bonus of |
whom Chairman Fordney is the |
leader ought to be satisfied, al |
though unsuccessful, and ceas,
their efforts"
"The presidents position is
sound" the statement continued. |
Either the proposition must be
postponed or a sales tax adopted. |
favor the former plan"