Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-22
Democratic Lea d ers,
Withdraw Substitute
Bill Proposing Cash
Option - S e n a t e
Agrees to Demand
Copeland for Show.
down on Cash Feat
ure Legion En-.
doris es Insurance
Plan -

washington. Apr. Sl.-A SHOW
down on the proposal for q cash
option in the pending straight in
surance soldier bonus bill was de-
manded in the senate today by SEN
ator Copeland. Democrat, New York,
after his party leaders earlier in the
day had formally withdrawn such
a substitute measure.
Agreement was reached to vote
on the cash option proposal tomor-
row afternoon and Senator Curtis.
Republican, Kansas. in charge OF
the measure. announced he would
seek q final vote on the bonus bill
by tomorrow.
Senator Copeland offered the cash
option amendment which was drawn
up by the minority members OF the
finance committee and which Sem
ator Walsh. Democrat, Massachu-
sets. its author, just previously had
announced would not be pressed.
Mr.. Walsh had said he would offer
the amendment when the pending
insurance bill became a law.
When Senators Copeland, Dill.
Democrat, Washington, and Morris.
Republican, Nebraska, earlier had
requested Mr.. Walsh TO put the pro-
posal forward now land let the
blame for its defeat fall where 1t
may" the Massachusetts senator
was defended in his course by Sem
ator Robinson. Arkansas. Democrat
ic leader. Senator Robinson and
Senator Walsh insisted that to put.
the cash option in the bill now
would work probably to defeat any
bonus legislation. They pointed to
the declarations OF several Republic
can senator's who announced on the
floor they would vote TO sustain q
presidential veto of n cash and in
surance bill but would vote to over
ride veto of the straight insurance
measure.
The pending insurance bill has. re-
ceived the endorsement of the Amer
lean Legion and Commander Quinn
last Saturday sent each senator a
message urging that no attempt be
made to amend IL.
In view of this. Republican lead
ers were confident tonight that the
cash option would not be voted in.
pointing out that advocates Of tho
pending measure would he Joined
probably by all opponents of bonus
bill.
Senator Norris said cash and In
surance bill could be passed over o.
presidential veto in the house. and
that while he had made no poll, he
believed there was n good chance
to obtain enough votes for this also
in the senate.
Senator Walsh said the open dec
larations of Senators Watson, Indi-
ana. Lodge. Massachusetts,, Curtis,
Kansas, and Willis, Ohio. Republi-
cans, that they would vote to sus-
tain n presidential veto of such a
bill, but would vote to override q
veto of the straight insurance meas
ure. showed that 1t would be i'm
possible for cash and insurance
measure to become law now. He
thought It wise, therefore, he said,
first to get a bonus law and then
seek to amend II.
Defending the pending bill In the
face of the attacks by Democrats ia
voring a cash payment option, Sem
ator Curtis pointed out the meas
urc was practically the same as the
bill passed last session except that
two of the four options were elm
mated. The old bill provided sas
does the pending measure. he point
ed out, for cash payments only~sto
veterans not entitled to more than
$50 in adjusted service compensa-
ton. The present bill would provide
2O-year endowment insurance poll
cies for other veterans.
Senator Norris said he did not OBJ
ject TO the insurance provision but
thought the beneficiaries ought to be
given the right TO- choose whether
they should receive cash or tpsrr.
once. If cash and insurance bill
were finally approved. he said, he
would urge all veterans to choose
the insurance feature. 800
The proposal offered by Senator
Copeland provides for issuance OF
$1,000. 100000 in additional second
Liberty loan bonds to provide funds
for payment OF the cash to those
choosing 1t. Such payments would
not be made until nine months after
enactment. of the bill into law ~
Senator Harrison, Democrat, Mis-
sissippi. again asked Republican
leaders to. determine the attitude OF
President Coolidge on the pending
measure. asserting that IL the Pres
ident was intending to sign the
straight insurance proposition and
veto cash and insurance bill, the
senate ought to know II. ..sa,s.-
Senator Walsh insisted the "ru-
mors" that the President would sign
the pending measure must ~ be
"groundiess," I'm the light OF the
statement in his message to con-
greSs that he did not favor a bonus,