Evening star., 1923-12-30
BONUSASRIDER TOTAXBILL
MAY BLOCK COOLIDGE VETO
President Faces Difficult Political Prob
lem as Foes Consider Methods to
Pass Soldier Measure.

1t necessary for the opponents of the
bill to find three more senator's who
VIII not vote to override the veto.
Furthermore, a responsible official
or veterans organization has recent
fy expressed his private belief that
the bonus bill cannot pass over the
PRESIDENTS veto at the present ses-
sion of Congress. He bases his state
ment on the growing demand for tax
reduction among the people. This
demand. he believes, will have sufi-
cient influence upon members of Con-
Gress to prevent action in spite of the
PRESIDENTS disapproval of the bill.
When the ways and means commit
tee of the House recently decided to
take up the administrative features
of the proposed tax reduction bill be-
fore considering the soldiers bonus
measure, 1t was, in a way, a set
back for the bonus bill. 1t is recog-
nized that opposition to the bonus is
growing the longer it Is delayed. The
supporters of the bonus are at a
loss today when it comes to estimat-
ing the strength of the opposition.
In one respect, 1t might be good
tactics for the opponents of the SOL
diers' bonus measure to allow 1t to
come up for consideration first, pro-
vtded they are confident sufficient
strength can be mustered to prevent
It's passage over the Presidents veto.
Because IL it finally failed, the bill
would not likely come before the Con-
gress again at the present session.
On the other hand. II the tax bill
were trotted out for inspection and
action on the floor of the House and
Senate, supporters Of the bonus bill
might find a way of adding to the
tax bill the soldiers bonus measure
as an amendment. Then the two
measures might go through the Sen
ate and House together as one bill.
and be presented to the President.
The President cannot veto part of a
bill. His veto would run against both
the bonus and the tax reduction pro-
posal of Congress.
Might See Both Passed.
While it is believed that the Presi-
dent would veto such a combined
other hand 1t might result in the pas
sage of the two over his veto, or in
his political enemies being able to
block all other tax reduction legis-
lation with the idea that people
would place the blame on the Presi-
dent for failure of the tax bill along
with the bonus measure.
Whf1a hoax, ,,,rol, ,JISo,,e
sion over the bonus bill and whether
1t should have the right of way in
Congress, apparently the legislation
for the benefit of the disabled veter-
ans has been temporarily. at least,
overlooked. Months ago the various
soldier organizations agreed that the
legislation for the disabled should be
given precedence. even over the bo-
nus. The disabled were to be the
first care. The American Legion con-
Cured in such an arrangement A
campaign was conducted among men,
bers of the Senate and House In sup
port of giving priority to legislation
for the disabled veterans, and many
of the members of both houses COM
mitted themselves to that idea. The
plan to put the wounded soldiers and
sailors ahead of all others in bene-
ficial legislation was given indorse-
ment by President Coolidge, too. in
his message to Congress.
Five Bills introduced.
Bills covering the five major points
Of the Disabled Veterans' Association
have been introduced and, in addi-
ton, Senator Walsh of Massachusetts,
has introduced three more to aid the
disabled. The measures introduced
through the Disabled Veterans or
gani1ation provide for tho creation
Of q veterans affairs committee in the
House to handle all Legislative pro-
posals relating to former service
men, opening Of all veterans hospi-
tails to the soldiers Of all wars re-
gardless Of the origin Of the disabil-
ity, retirement Of permanently dis
abled emergency officers Of the Army
on the basis that applies to disabled
emergency officers Of the Navy and
Marine Corps liberalization of the
laws governing reinstatement Of in
surance in the Veterans Bureau and
completion Of the permanent hospital
program.
The bills introduced by Senator
Walsh provide for free hospitaIixation
for all world-war veterans suffering
from neuropsychiatric and tubercular
diseases; removal Of the stipulation
in the present law that a veteran
must be examined within three years
from the date Of discharge to avail
himself Of the presumption that his
affiiction is Of service origin, and to
grant compensation in certain cases
to dependents OF deceased soldiers