Evening star., 1923-12-30
BY q. GOULD LINCOLN.

prevent the final passage OF
the soldiers adjusted compensation
bill. notwithstanding the expected
presidential veto.
Today the situation is vastly diff
ferent. Supporters of the bonus are
face to face with growing opposition
to the adjusted compensation bill.
The. latest poll of the Senate shows
that already the list of senators who
would vote to override the presiden-
tial veto has narrowed so that only
a few votes are between the bonus
and ultimate defeat-and a number
of those votes are very uncertain. =
Two factors are operating to aid In
the defeat Of the bonus legislation.
The first is the desire for tax reduc-
tion, which Secretary Mellon Of the
Treasury Department has dangled in
front of the eyes Of the most heavily
taxed American citizenry--in time Of
peace-in the history Of the country.
When Mr.. Mellon announced not long
ago that the taxes could be reduced
substantially there was a. sigh of re-
lief and much applause. But Mr..
Mellon said, in effect: "YoS can't
have your cake and eat it. too; you
can't have substantial tax reduction
and at the same time provide a bonus
for the veterans Of the world war
that will run into billions Of dollars"
Desire to Protect Coolidge.
The other factor is the desire Of the
republican senators not to place the
President, who Is the choice of many
of them to succeed himself, in the
position of being turned down by his
party. should he veto a soldiers
bonus bill.
The question as to the justice of a
soldiers bonus may be lost sight Of
in the coming struggle. On one
hand may be arrayed interests which
desire tax reduction, and millions
of the people along with them who
do not wish to sacrifice tax reduction
to bonus BILL On the other hand
may be arrayed forces which desire,
above all things. to embarrass Mr.
Coolidge, the probable republican
nominee for President
There is no doubt in the minds of
any one at present that soldiers
bonus bill can and will pass both the
Senate and House and be sent to the
President for his approval. There
seems to be almost as little doubt
in the minds of many that such a
bill would be passed over the veto of
the President in the House. But
whether the necessary two-thirds
vote to override a presidential veto
can be mustered in the Senate, is
horse of different color.
When the President delivered his
annual address to Congress. he curt
ly dismissed the bonus with a single
sentence, expressing his opposition
to such a measure. He gave no
reason directly, though he dealt at
length with the necessity of tax re-
duction for the sake Of the American
people and American business-which,
after all. must be closely allied-and
he spoke of the need of giving all
necessary aid to the disabled vet
erans of the war
1t is possible that the President.
knowing that he probably would be
called upon to give or to deny his
determined to withhold his ammuni-
ton against a bonus bill until the
time came to send veto message to
Congress. Undoubtedly it would be
more effective, 1t is said in some
quarters. to have the arguments Of
the Chief Executive presented at that
time. They might reasonably be ex-
pected to give to senator's and repre-
sentatives who had supported the
bonus bill a ground for their refusal
to vote for a bonus bill over the
Presidents veto. But IL the reasons
of the President were given in ad-
vance of the original vote on the bill
in the Senate and House. the senator's
and representatives would be de-
prived Of such an excuse for shifting
their position when they were called
upon to override a veto.
Opponents Find Hope.
1t is true that Senator Smoot of
Utah, one Of the best informed mem
bers of the Senate, has recently de-
clared that the bill will pass in the
Senate over the Presidents veto
though he himself is opposed to the
bonus bill. But the latest poll Of the
Senate gives hope to the opponents
OF the bonus.
/, Close figuring on both sides Of the
bonus question discloses that the sup
porters OF the bonus today have only
from two to four votes to spare when
it comes to an effort to override the
Presidents veto. And with this close
lineup the supporters OF the bonus
must count on Senator'S Lodge of
Massachusetts. Colt Of Rhode Island.
Hale Of Maine, Mclean Of Connectf-
cut. Mccormick OF Illinois, Brandeeee
Of Connecticut, republicans. and Sem
ators Gerry Of Rhode Island and
Kendrick OF Wyoming, democrats, to
vote to pass tho bill over the veto.
Some Of these senators may, find in
the veto message Of the President
good and sufficient reasons for not so
voting, 1t Is said.
Senators arc being deluged with
letters in opposition to the bonus
from their own states. It has been
svar1ously estimated that from twen-
ty-four to tWUnty-seven senators will
vote against the bonus bill on the
original vote. The probability is that
twenty-six will vote against the bill
and the rest will support it. Thirty
three votes can prevent the passage
OF the bill over the Presidents veto.
In other words, If seven senator's who
vote for the bill are unwilling to
vote for it's passage after it has been
vetoed, the bill cannot finally pass.
Already assurances have been given
that three will not vote to pass the