The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-02-19
ADMINISTRATION
 HEADS IN CLASH . OVER BONUS BILL
Mellon And Miller Elk. change Notes On The
 Latter's Speech

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1S.-Andrew W. Mellon, Secretary of the Treasury, and Thomas w. Miller, alien, property custodian, both heading departments of the republican administration, clashed today in battle over the bonus that was overshadowed only by the fast-fly- ing reports of changes in President Coolidge's cabinet.
 At loggerheads. with Mir. Mellon over the question of compensation, MT. Miller started the argument last night and, when a truce was called tonight, the air had been filled with statements President Coolidge had received from both parties to the controversy out lines of their cases, Representative Rainey, democrat, Illinois, had brought it up in the House and Senator Harri- son, democrat, Mississippi, had formal ly demanded congressional investi- gation.
 Colonel Miller was quoted as having said in New York that he had been informed by a. high treasury official that the treasury had juggled figures as to the cost of soldiers bonus in such way as to try to defeat it. To day, he added to that statement a long list of what he termed to be discrep- ances in treasury estimates, and took occasion to say the former service men were becoming wrought up' over the situa tion, which should be settled. Later however, he said he had made no charges that Secretary Mellon had "juggeld figures
 Says His Figures Were Verified
 "What I did say," Mir. Miller de- clared in a letter to MT. Mellon, twas that I had been informed that an official of the treasury department had verified my statement and figures which were sent you earlier in the day" These figures were those con- tained in Mir. Miller's remarks about variations in treasury estimates.
 Before Mr. Millers last letter to him had been received. Secretary Mel lon, who had appeared to be disturb ed by accounts of the property custo- dian's speech in New York, had sent to him letter, demanding to know the name of the high treasury official' quoted, and declaring that the charge was false. He also remarked that we ''have had within the past week an example of man of public prominence, who make statements in a speech, with out verification of their accuracy" and that such cases should be promptly dealt with In reply to this, MT. Mil Ter merely said he noted, your refer ence to the statements made by man of public prominence within the past week, and it just happens that re- ference was made to my office in that same gentleman's remarks"
 Says He Was NIisquOted.
 Replying specifically to your letter" Mir. Mellon said, please be advised that the quotation of my remarks of yesterday contains inaccuracies and even to the extent of quoting, as a part of my remarks, the remarks of other speakers, who were present. l did not state that high official of, your department had told me anything"
 He added that he referred to a con versation with "a prominent United States senator. whose name will be re- yealed to you with his permission. or not, if he objects to my so doing"
 In his earlier statement, which he did not retract, MT. Miller went over various treasury estimates on the cost of bonus He mentioned that President Harding had vetoed a com pensation measure because he be- heved the country was facing deficit of $650, 100000.