Evening star., 1924-04-24
Advocates in Senate Con-
fident of Votes Enough to
Override Executive.
ATTITUDE OF COOLIDGE
CAUSES SPECULATIONS
Democrats Pave Way for Cash Op-
tlon if Majority Changes in
Next Congress.

Advocates Of the soldier bonus bill
centered their attention today on the
White House.
Passage Of the insurance measure
yesterday by the Senate in substan-
TALLY the same form as approved by
the House left only minor differences
between the chambers for adjustment
In conference, and it is expected to
be ready soon for President Cool
idge'S consideration.
No word on the subject of bonus
legislation has come from the Presi-
dent since his message to Congress
He declared against "A bonus at that
time, but it has been predicted in
some quarters recently that he might
approve the insurance plan. At the
same time, proponents of the bill
nave expressed confidence that, even
II he should disapprovc it, sufficient
votes were assured in both the House
and Senate TO override a veto.
Can Override Veto.
The bill was passed by the Senate
yesterday, 67 TO Il, and the vote in
the House was 355 to 54, much more
jority required to pass a measure
over a veto. Senate Republican lead
ers. including Senator'S Lodge, Massa-
chusetts, the floor leader; Curtis, Kan
sas, sponsor of the bill; Watson, In
diana. and Willis, Ohio. also have de
clared they would vote to override 4
veto of the insurance measure.
Although the bill. providing for cash
n
more than $50 in adjusted service
compensation and twenty-year en-
dowment insurance policies to others,
was supported by the American Le-
yesterday they would renew their
fight for full cash payments in the
next Congress.
Groundwork for Action.
Senator Walsh, Democrat, Massa-
chusetts, laid the groundwork for
such action yesterday with an amend
ment to the bill postponing until
July 1, 1926, the date Of issuance
of the insurance certificates, although
leaving the cash payments of $50 or
less available Immediately upon its
vlded for issuance of the certificates
on next January l.
Before any of the insurance certifi-
Gates would be issued under the
amendment agreed to- Senator Walsh
predicted a Democratic Congress
would be in power and an opportunity
would be afforded to change the law
10 include an option of full cash pay
ments. A motion by Senator Copeland
Democrat, New York, to make the cash
payments an option in the bill was
voted down 47 to SS.
Second Dill Passed.
The soldier bonus bill passed YES
terday by the Senate is the second 10
receive the approval of Congress. The
first was vetoed by President Hard
ing in 1922 and failed in the Senate
on a motion for repassage over the
veto after the House had repassed it.
Before that measure was brought
forward the House had approved a
bill at previous session, but the
Senate sidetracked it at the request
of President Harding, made in per-
son in the Senate chamber.
The question has been before Con-
gress since the year after the war
ended and more than 200 bonus bills
have been introduced.
Senate and House on the main fea-
lures of the bill Each has approved
the major provisions. which are:
Provisions of Bill.
Cash payments to veterans whose
adjusted compensation would not eX-
ceed $50.
poIicies based on adjusted service pay
at the rate of 81 a day for domestic
service and s1.25 day for overseas
service.
Provision is made in the insurance
feature under which the veteran al
ter a period of two years from the
date of the issue of his certlhcate
could obtain loans from banks up TO
90 per cent of the current cash Vaiue
of the certificate.
written into the House bill by the
Senate We're: ,u
able Immediately, instead OF aitsr
nine months from the date Oh the en-
actment of the measure.
Date Is Postponed.
That the insurance certificates
would issue after July i, l925, IN
stead of after January 1. 1926.
That veterans should be relieved
Of paying compound interest TO the
Gates which had been allowed TO
lapse as security for bank loans.
Placing entire control of the ad-
ministration of the act under the
director of the Veterans Bureau in
stead of under the Secretary of War
and Secretary of Navy.
Eliminating employees OF the pup
lie health service from the Dement'S
of the bill.
Making the legislation applicable
to female yeoman of the Navy, female
marines, the Philippine Scouts and
the Porto Rico regiment of infantry.
Eight hours of oratory and voting
on amendments preceded final pas
sage of the bill. Senators Underwood
of Alabama and Glass of Virginia.
Democrats, led the opposition to any
kind of bonus legislation. Senator
Underwood spoke for an hour, char
the insurance proposition
as a sham and fraud" and urging
that the Senate give attention to tax
reduction rather than to bonus leg
islation.
Assured by Republican leaders that
they would vote to override a veto
of this bill, but would support veto
of cash bonus measure, the Senate
resisted all efforts to add a cash
option.
Test on Question.
The test on this question came with
the rejection, 4S to 81, of an amend
ment by Senator Copeland, Democrat,
Naw York which uouId ma IafS