The Washington times., 1924-06-09
HELD Up
BY LACK Of
FUNDS
Deficiency Bill, Carrying Ape
preparations for This Work,
Overlooked by Congress

Officials of the War and Navy
and the Veterans
Bureau will put their heads to-
gether today and. after giving Con-
gress a ceremonial "cussing OUT
for failing to pass the deficiency
bill before adjournment, viii en-
deavor to find out how to prevent
a delay Of many months in prepar.
ing for the distribution Of the
world war bonus.
No additional funds for the ad.
ministration Of the soldiers bonus
law will be available until Congress
meets again in December, it was
announced here today following q
conference at the White House be.
tween President Coolidge and ID.
rector Of the Budget Lord.
General Lord said that the Presi.
dent had no authority to issue an
Executive order authorizing the in-
curing of a deficiency by the Fed
eral Government except to save life
or public property
In Time for Payments.
It was pointed out, however, that
the cash payments under the bonus
law would not be due until after
March 1, 1925. which will give Con.
gress ample time to make the APP
preparation which failed in the clos
ing hours Of the first session.
In the meantime no additional
clerks win be employed by the War
and Navy Departments or the Vet
Grams Bureau to handle the new
bonus-insurance certificates. They
were to have been issued after the
first Of the year, but probably will
be delayed.
The work on the bonus will con-
tinue slowly with what help is
available.
The lack of money is the second
blow that the bonus has received
since the law was enacted by Con.
gress over President Coolidge's veto.
Pending in the District Of Col
lumbia Supreme Court are two Pc
the Government from administering
the law.
When Congress packed its grips
Saturday night and called II q ses-
sion, the deficiency bill, carrying an
appropriation of $131 900 900 for the
first years bonus operations, lay
helpless in the Senate.
Action Surprising.
This action, or inaction, was not
anticipated, as the House already
had approved the measure and the
Senate was prepared to rush it
through.
AS a consequence the elaborate
preparations of the Federal Govern
ment for the administration of the
bonus were given severe setback.
Orders to approximately 5000 en-
ployes to report to work in the ad-
justed compensation branches Of
the various departments were hast
lily countermanded.
The space in Government build
ings reserved for bonus work gapes
emptily today. 1t cannot be filled
with men and materials until the
appropriation is available.
Presses Silent.
The presses Of the Government
Printing Office have been stripped
Of the plates for the bonus applicae
ton blanks, which were to have
been printed immediately-15,00 0ys
900 Of them. Great rolls Of paper.
brought into the plant for this
particular job. were moved to the
side Of the supply room, to gather
dust until they are needed.
The engraving for the adjusted
service certificate at the Bureau OF
Engraving and Printing was care.
fully tucked away to await the
time when an appropriation Will
be made.
Organization charts, assigunenta
Of personnel and acquisitions Oh
supplies in the depa 'nents were
pigeon-holed to await ths pleasure
of the powers that be.