The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-02-02
Spectacular Fight Over Fund
ing of British Obligations to
Furnish Finale for Sixty
Seventh Congress.
Harding to Crack Whip

British payments.
Here are the outstanding develop
ments of the day.
Representative Hamilton Fish, re-
publican. New York. spokesman for
the veterans bloc" announced that
the soldier bonus bill vetoed by Presi-
dent Harding would be offered as a
rider to the debt bill and predicted its
Passage.
Representatives Fordney. republ-
can, Michigan, chairman Of the ways
and means committee, which will
frame the debt refunding legislation.
while favoring a soldier bonus. said
he would fight the proposed rider.
Opposed by Harding.
Although he condemned the prin-
ciple of a soldier bonus in his veto
message, President Harding, accord
ing to Mr.. Fordney. would nor oppose
q bonus financed from war debt pay
ments eventually hut does oppose in
lection of bonus legislation into the
debt refunding measure.
Senators McKellar. democrat, Ten
nessee. and Heflin, democrat, Ala
bate in the senate on the British debt
settlement, which they assailed as
un-American, McKellar being dubbed
proGerman by Senator Glass. demo-
crat, Virginia. and Heflin being called
TO order for connecting Senator
Wadsworth, republican. New York,
with Wall street sharks"
The American debt refunding com.
mission, in session with British Am
bassador Geddes. studied the details
OF the British cabinets acceptance of
the American terms of settlement and
began preparation of n recomme enda-
ton of modification of the debt re-
funding act
No Reason for Delay.
There Is no good reason why a
bonus bill should be delayed until the
interest payments are actually made" "
said Mr.. Fish. MY amendment will
provide that bonuses shall be paid
when the money in sufficient amounts
=, to meet the cost is paid by Great
Britain. Such an amendment would
do away with any further wrangle
about bonuses. l understood that the
interest payment will amount to
about $3.50. 100000 yearly, while one
third of this amount will be all that
will be necessary to pay the bonuses"
Representative Johnson. republican,
South Dakota. another ex-service
man. said that sentiment in favor Of
a soldiers bonus amendment was so
overwhelming that no point of order
f.1S
that II would carry in the house by
big majority.
Lenders Worried.
With the soldiers bonus thrust to
the fore again, administration leaders,
including President Harding, are
frankly worried over the effect of the
funding agreement on the legislative
situation. They are fearful that intro
auction Of funding legislation now will
seriously jeopardize the chances of the
ship subsidy bill, which, 1t Is recog-
nized must be passed at this session
or not at all.
Senator Lodge, republican, Massa-
chusetts, republican leader in the SEN
ate: Senator Smoot, republican Utah;
Senator Watson. republican, Indiana,
and Representative Burton, republi-
can. Ohio all conferred with the presi:
dent about the situation today. They
are understood to have urged Mr..
Harding to lose no time in laying the
British debt agreement before con-
gress.
The president, it is believed. will
do this. but at the same time he is
making preparations to crack the
party whip in an emphatic manner
to get action on the ship subsidy.
He il preparing a, letter to Senator
Jones. republican. Washington. chair
~man of the senate commerce commit.
tee, in charge of the subsidy. calling
upon the administration supporters in
the senate to rally and bring every
parliamentary pressure to bear to
force a vote on the subsidy bill be-
fore March 4.
McKellar Starts Fireworks.
Senator McKellar. democrat Ten.
nesse. touched off the firweorks in the
senate by declaring himself opposed
to taxing the American people ap-
proximately s5S 100000 to make up
the difference between the interest
rate on the Liberty bonds and the
interest rate which the British. will
pay.
Senator McKellar made remarks
about the British Of an uncompliment-
ary character and Senator Glass
charged that Senator McKellar was
"stating the pro-German view; not
fhc American view" Senator Nc
F-ellar retorted that such statement
was unworthy" Of the Virginia sena-
tor and the incident passed without
violence.
Senator Heflin deplored the willing
ress to tax the American people to
pay the difference in the interest rate
on the Liberty bonds and the jn.or-
est rate which the British are tc ray
while there was such apparent reluc-
tance to provide soldiers bonus
Senator Wadsworth retorted that the
people of New York had voted s4o.-
,, 600, 900 for soldiers bonus lad de-
manded OF the Alabama senator:
Where was Alabama when New
. York was doing that?"
Being robbed by New York" ="
promptly shouted Senator Helm. Il
represented the American people. do
not represent the Wall street bond
lTwn to Page sixteen. Column Thrse.)