Evening star., 1924-02-20
PROBE
|. OF M|LLERCHARGES
Senate Orders Inquiry Into
Alleged Bonus IEJuggIing."
Hot Debate on Floor.

An investigation of charges made
by the alien property custodian, Col.
Thomas w. Miller, that Treasury De-
/ partment estimates on the cost Of the
soldiers bonus had been juggled will
be made by the Senate finance COM
mittee under a resolution offered by
Senator Harrison OF Mississippi, dem
ocrat, and adopted by the Senate late
yesterday.
Discussion of the bonus was pre-
cipitated in the Senate yesterday
afternoon by Senator Bruce Of Mary
land, who declared that the compen-
sation proposal was a "squalid and
odious gratuity."
Fierce Debate Ensuea.
before Senator Bruce had time for
breathing spell after his address
on the bonus, and Senator Caraway.
democrat, Arkansas, had called him a
champion of the Jack Dempseys OF
the war" number of others were on
their feet to take exception to some
Of his remarks.
On top of this Senator Robinson OF
Arkansas, the democratic leader,
charged that Maj. Gen. John T.
oIsyan had violated the quasi-con-
cllent' by trying to use in anti-bonus
WORK the organization built up dur
ing ms service as special counsel with
the Senate committee which investi-
gated the Veterans Bureau.
After Senator Bruce had expressed
the opinion that the bonus was in
defensible in principle" Senator Cara
way charged that the Maryland SEN
ator had evidenced no concern when
the railroads sought and got bonus
OF S1,S00,000, 900"
Il remember" said Mr.. Caraway,
that in his zeal to maintain the
Esch-Cummins act he switched his
vote against a member of his own
party. No man who has the proper
American spirit will stand here and
denounce the American soldier as a
danger"
Senator Brookhart, republican, Iowa.
said most of the bonus opposition
apparently was based on support of
the Mellon tax plan. Senator Ashurst
democrat, Arizona, interpreting the
Maryiand senator's remarks as criti-
clsing pro-bonus veterans for oppos-
ing tax reduction, said He would con-
Sider stheir service in defeating the
Mellon plan equal to that which
they rendered on the battlefield
In criticising Gen. ORyan Senator
Robinson also mentioned activities Of
the former committee counsel, which
he said were in support of the Mellon
plan. Senator Reed, republican
Pennsylvania. chairman of the com
mlttee, replied that Gen. O'Ryan had
completed his services with the com
mittee long before incidents referred
to by the democratic leader.
Sees Lot of Sonscnses Uttered.
There is lot of nonsense uttered
here" said Senator Reed, about
propaganda Boiled down, it simply
comes to the fact that one white man
is attempting to air his views to the
country and they are not in accord
ance with ours. Gen. O'Ryan, as a
soldier with an unusual record is
against the bonus for the same rea-
son that 1 am; belief. that the SOL
der group, the earning class, will
eventually pay for it and for the war
loans"
Senator Owen. democrat, Oklahoma
ended the debate by announcing thai
he had decided to support the bonus
after having been heretofore opposed
to it. He gave as his reason that he
was convinced the Treasury had over
estimated the cost of a compensation
measure by s900,O00.o00.