Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-19
.CLASHOvERBONUS
REACHES CONGRESS
Harrison and Rainey Take Up
Discussion Between Mel
lon and Miller.

The clash between Secretary Mel
lon and Thomas w. Miller, allen prop
erty custodian, growing out of the
latter's speech in New York on the
bonus, has spread rapidly. reaching
both the White House and Congress.
Letters and statements issued
swiftly yesterday from the Of
ces TO both administration officials
and finally each submitted a state
nent of his case to President Cool
idge. Meanwhile Senator Harrison.
democrat. Mississippi, demanded an
Investigation OF the affair. and the
matter was called to the attention of
the House by Representatives Rainey,
democrat. Illinois. =.
In a letter to Mr.. Miller the Treas
ury Secretary. asked whether the
alien property custodian had been
correctly quoted to the effect that a
high Treasury Official had told
him the. departments estimates Of
the Of soldiers .sr bonus si had been
proposal. and demanded the name of
the high Treasury official" Mr..
Melons letter crossed one en- route
from Mr.. Miller, which stated that
."3uggled figures" but did say that
he had been informed that an official
OF the Treasury Department had
verified my statements and figures"
on which he based his remarks about
variations in the bonus estimates.
Mr.. Miller conferred with Presi-
dent Coolidge before today's cabinet
meeting. On leaving the White House
House he said he considered the mat
ter closed incident" as far as he
was concerned.
Further than to say that ne stood
squarely on his statements that
Treasury estimates Of what a bonus
would cost had been conflicting. he
would not make any statement as to
what transpired at the conference.
Denies Accusation.
Col. Miller's reply to Secretary Mel
Secretary to. the alien property Gus
t6dian. denied that he had ever said
the Treasury had "juggled figures"
Replying specifically to your let
ter" said Col. Miller. please be ad-
vised that the quotation of my re-
racies. and to the extent of quoting,
as a part Of my remarks, the remarks
Of other speakers who were present:
I did not say that you had juggled
figures enta ola or not state
ment had told me anything. What
did say was that had been informed
than an official of the Treasury De-
partment had verified my statements
and figures which were sent you
earlier today. what I referred to was
a conversation / had with promi-
nent republican United states senator,
whose name will be revealed to you
With his permission or not. If he OBJ
jects to my so doing. You have been
rnisquoted yourself. and men in pub
lie life are subject to that.
Il note your reference to the state
rnents made by man OF public
prominence within the past week. and
1t Just happens that a reference was
made to my office In that same gen
t1eman's. remarks.
IT hope this will make the matter
entirely clear"
Letter From Mellon.
Secretary Melons letter to Col. Mil
Ter follows:
You are quoted by the New York
papers as saying in a speech in New
York yesterday that a high Treas
ury official had told you that the
Treasury Department estimates of
the cost Of the soldiers bonus had
been juggled.' You are further
quoted that you had been informed
this had been done because it was felt
necessary at the Treasury Depart
ment to use stronger and stronger
arguments against the bonus each
time 1t came up Please advise me,
first, do these quotations substan-
TALLY represent what you said In
your speech in New York; Second,
IL 50, what is the name Of the high
Treasury official who Is the source OF
your information?
IT am unable to find any one In the
Treasury who could have given you
the Information which you are said to
have received. The statement alleged
to have been received from the high
Treasury official is false. The figures
given publicity by the Treasury De-
partment with respect to the bonus
cost were prepared by the government
actuary and represent his calculations
They represent the Treasury's views
Of this cost without Interior purpose.
1--WE have had within the past week
an example Of man of public promi.
nenoe who made statements in 1
speech without verifcation OF their
aesuraey S1cn cases ;sr .s shq nms,,. De g,
preciate, therefore, an immediate an
swsr, to my request for this informa-
ton"
Representative Rainey. democrat.
Illinois, brought the matter up on the
floor OF the House yesterday, where
he said the Treasury had two sets OF
figures, to be used as conditions war
ranted in giving estimates.
Mississippi. suggested congressional
Investigation of the whole contro-
versy. ...,.r
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