Evening star., 1924-04-22
INSURGENTS DELAY
BONUS BILL ACTION
Democratic Group Demands Cash
Option-Night Session
Is Likely.
MOVE CAME AS SURPRISE
Leaders Had Intended to Seek
Amendment After Law Enacted.

Facing a contest on proposal for a
cash option in the insurance bonus bill
as result of an insurgent movement
in Democratic ranks. the Senate pre-
pared today to go into a night session
to hasten action on the measure.
The cash option fight fiared up sud
denly late yesterday when Senator
Walsh, Massachusetts,, a Democratic
member of the finance committee and
author of the cash amendment, having
formally withdrawn it, Senator Cope
Senator's Dill, Democrat, Washington,
and Norris, Republican. Nebraska, Of
fered an identical proposal.
The move came as a surprise.
Democratic leaders had just an
nounced their inten ton of withhold
ing the proposal until after enact
ment of the straight insurance bill
| adoption as an amendment TO the
law.
Cash Substitute Offered.
The substitute bill advanced by
| Senator Copeland would give the
| veteran. in addition to all benefits
1
| option of full cash payments instead
| OF insurance. The pending bin would
| allow cash payments to veterans not
| entitled to more than $50 but would
| limit others to twenty-year endow-
! ment insurance policies.
| The substitute calls for issuance of
! 81, 800, ,0o0, 900 additional bonds under
| the second liberty loan act, with inter
est not to exceed 1 II per cent instead
/ OF 41% per cent, to meet the cash pay
ments which would be made avail
able nine months after enactment of
| the bill. The straight insurance meas
| ure calls for an annual appropriation
of Slo0,0O0,000 for twenty years.
Senator Bursum, Republican, New
Mexico, said that while he had con-
Sidered other bills perhaps better, he
was anxious to support the pending
measure in the light of Endorsement
of it by American Legion posts OF his
state.
1t was suggested by Senator Sim
mons, Democrat North Carolina, that
the legions support was due to a belief
that the insurance bill was the best that
could be enacted now and that an effort
for cash would be better advanced later
Senator Copeland read a telegram
from soldier organization in Arkan-
sas supporting his cash plan.
Senator Simmons said he was posi-
tive that IF a vote can be had here
on a cash option entirely disassociat
ed from apprehension of an Execu-
tive veto" it would command an over
whelming majority.
II you fail to pass n bonus bill at
this session." replied Senator Bur-
sum, you will never get one passed"
The North Carolina senator declar-
ed he could not agree with that
opinion, for he believed that every
day adds to the American Legion =
strength"
Hits ssBIoc7 System.
Senator King, Democrat, Utah. an
opponent of the bonus, interrupte ed
to suggest that "if we are to bow
to the will of all blocs and organi-
cations. why not cut out this form
of government and let these asssocia-
items determine what they want and
come here and pass the bills accord :
ingly."
Senator Fernald, Republican, Maine,
delivered the first speech of the
three-day debate against the bonus
Declaring soldiers of the world war
Jared better than their forefathers
in previous wars. he argued atten-
tion should be given now to tax re-
duction.
scientific plan advanced by Mr.. Mellon .
he declared. would be impossible if
the bonus was passed.
Get the nation substantially on it's
feet, he said, "and then compensate
the veterans, compensate them lib
orally. Some consideration should be
given to the many who returned
home from schools and business to
take the places of those in robust
health who went to war think
all persons will best be COMPENSATED
by giving attention to settling busi-
ness conditions, which certainly would
be upset if this bill is passed.
a majority of the men in Maine
who served in the war took the same
view he declared