The Washington times., 1924-05-19
BOTH SIDES
G.. AIMING;
VICTORY
CONTINUED from First Page)


approved a State bonus bill, in 1919.
The President is said to have OBJ
served that this was during the
war period" and that conditions
''haye now changed"
well, I'm committed to II, ana
I'll have to keep my promise, this
Senator said.
It was Senator Harreld's vote, re-
yersed at the last moment after the,
roll call had been completed, that
sustained the Presidents veto Of
the Bursum pension bill by the
narrow margin of single vote last
week.
All OF the Senators who were
summoned to the White House
breakfast table voted for the bonus
on its initial passage, and all of
them have been accounted by
friends of the bonus as in favor
Of it over<the veto, although some
have been classed as 'wavering."
They voted for the original bonus
bill q year ago, but switched and
voted against it after it had been
vetoed by the late President Hard
ing.
Depends ON Absentees.
The fate Of the bonus was con-
Hidered today as Ringing upon the
iaarrowest Of margins in the Senate.
II the seven Senators who were
summoned to the White House
would vote to sustain the Presi-
dents veto it is not improbable the
measure would be defeated by one
or two votes, exact figures being
impossible because of the uncer-
tainty Of the number of Senators
who will absent themselves from
the chamber at voting time.
Senators attending the breakfast
were noncommittal when they left
the White House.
SmoOt Admits Passage.
Senator Harreld ventured the
opinion that mo votes have been
changed by the breakfast con-
ference"
Following the departure of the
seven guests, Senator Smoot -Rep0
Of Utah, and Senator Kendrick
Dem.) of Wyoming, called on the
President. He received them at the
mansion instead Of the executive
offices as he is still suffering slight
effects of the cold contracted last
week.
Smoot said he believed the Presi.
dents veto would be oyerrid1en by
q couple Of vote.?'
Fresh from its overwhelmipa. vic.
tory In the House, the soldiers'
bonus bill was considered by the
Senate today ia-the last step Of the
fight for IT'S enactment into law
over the veto Of President Coolidge.
The bill, providing paid.up Gov.
eminent insurance for 1000 900
soldiers, faced its final barrier in
the Senate under conditions presag.
ing the greatest legislative battle
OF the present Congress. Advocates
and opponents we're provoked to un
usual fervor by the Presidents veto
message.
A thin line Of doubtful Senators
ten in number-stood between the
Dill and its enactment over the
Presidents veto. The fate Of the
bill rests on their votes.
The doubtful line includes Sen.
ators Cameron, Arizona; Colt, Rhode
Island; Fess, Ohio; Reyes, New
Hampshire; Mclean, Connecticut,
Phipps, Colorado; Spencer, Missouri;
warren, Wyoming; Willis, Ohio,
and Mckinley, Illinois. II a
majority OF these Senators finally
throw their support to the Presi.
dent the bonus faces defeat. II
most Of them support the bill it's
passage over the veto was conceded.
Advocates Claim Victory.
Bonus leaders were confident Of
winning. Senator Curtis Rep.) of
Kansas. who "fathered" the present
bill. declared it would pass "by a
narrow margin" A similar predic.
ton was made by Senator Robinson
CDemJ OF Arkansas, minority floor
leader, who headed the Democratic
bonus advocates.
1.-THE sentiment in favor Of ad.
3usted compensation Is so pro.
nounced that no effort, however
well-conceived or cleverly executed,
can prevent its enactment into
law" said Robinson.
Foes Of the bonus were Just as
certain they would gain enough
wavering" Senators to uphold the
Presidents veto. Senators Borah
Rep) Of Idaho and Reed (Rep.) of
Pennsylvania, heading the bonus op-
position, declared the bills fate de.
pended upon the swing Of a Every
few votes"
Faction Managers Busy.
Under the surface, managers of
the two factions were busy polling"
the Senate in efforts to determine
their maximum strength. The large
Washington Sent the