Evening star., 1924-05-16


IN the House tomorrow with advo-
'ates claiming more than the re-
CURED two-thirds majority to over
ride this veto.
Opponents of the bonus bill in Con-
rress today are bending every effort
70 muster sufficient votes to prevent
It's passage over the veto. 1t has been
Senerally conceded that the House
would give the two-thirdS vote nee
essary to put the bill through not
withstanding the presidential veto.
1t was predicted today that when the
House votes tomorrow. that body will
nave been found to be consistently
for the bill.
Senate Passage Doubtful.
The chance for sustaining the veto
OF the President. such as it is, lies in
the Senate. While supporters of the
bonus bill have relied upon sufficient t
votes to put the measure through
despite the veto, it was learned today
hat there is a growing hope among
the opponents of the measure and a
somewhat diminished assurance on
the part of those who favor the bill.
The bill passed the Senate by a vote
OF 81 to Il. with twelve senators not
voting. With full Senate it would
be necessary for the opponents of
the measure to cast SO votes to SuS-
tain the veto.
The veto message Of the President.
1t was admitted at the Capitol today,
l. strong. The Senate cannot vote on
the bonus bill until after the House
has acted, and not at all unless the
House oEerrideS the veto. Whether
the Senate will reach a vote on the
measure tomorrow after it has been
acted upon by the House is still un-
decided. The probabilities are. it was
said by leaders today. that the matter
would have to go over until Monday,
II not longer. Some senators who
desire tC vote may not be able to be
In the Senate before Monday.
Reaction Is Awaited.
In the meantime, the reaction of
the country to the Presidents veto
message is being eagerly awaited. If
the reaction is favorable to the Presi-
dent the longer the delay before a
vote in the Senate the stronger will
be the position of the opponents of
the measure.
10 able-bodied veterans of the world
war" and that the nation is meeting
its obligation" to disabled veterans
and dependents of those who died,
the President in his veto message
declared an adequate insurance plan
already had been provided in 1917,
and that the bill called for a "gratu-
ity' which "our country cannot af-
lord" which "the veterans as a whole
. do not want" and which is opposed
by "all our American principles
IF this bill becomes a law he said,
we wipe out at once almost all the
progress five hard years have accom-
plished in reducing the national debt
II we now confer upon a class "a
Sratuity such as is contemplated by
his bill we diminish to the extent of
the expenditures involved the bene-
fits of reduced taxes which will flow
not only to this class, but TO the en-
tire people.
Means $40 Annually.
When it is considered that less
than $40 a year would pay for the
average policy provided by this bill,
here is strong ground to assume that
the veterans themselves would be bet
ter off to make that small payment
and be relieved of the attendant high
taxes and high living costs which
such legislation would impose upon
Them
Enactment OF the bill, Mr. Coolidge
argued. would commit the nation for
twenty years 10 IAN additional aver
900" and leave. at the end, the neces-
Sity of selling to the public Il $780,
100000 bond issue.
We must either abandon our
bill he said. patriotism which is
bought and paid for is not patriot
ism. Service to our country in
time of war means sacrifice. 3" To
attempt to make money payment
"ut of the earnings of the people to
those who are physically well and
financially able is to abandon one of
our most cherished American ideals"
Cannot Afford Cost.
Our country cannot afford it. The
veterans whole do not want it.
All our American principles are opposed
10 it. There is no moral jurisdiction
Cor it," the message concluded.
In his discussion of the bill. when
he declared no bonus was owed able
bodied veterans of the world war the
President said:
The gratitude of the nation to these
veterans cannot be expressed in dollars
and cents. The respect and honor of
their country will rightfully be theirs
forevermore. But patriotism can neither
he bought nor sold. 1t is not hire and
salary 1t is not material but spiritual.
II is one of the finest and highest of
money for it is to offer it an un-
worthy indignity which cheapens, de-
bases and destroys it,
House Demands Vote.
The veto message was read in the
House promptly upon it's being re-
ceiyed there, and as the reading was
concluded shouts of Vote, vote" rang
ont. Amid some confusion Repre-
sentative Longworth, the Republican
leader. asked unanimous consent that
the bill be voted upon for repassage
on next Thursday. This and SINH
lar request to delay vote until Mon
,lav were objected to.
Representative Rankin, Democrat,
Mississippi. in demanding an immediate
vote. characterized the message as an
Insult" to the world war veterans.
leaders of both parties maneuvered,
however, to delay the vote until to-
morrow. This decision was reached
by a vote of 179 to III, advocates
contending their ranks would be
etrengthened through action of alb
sentees by vote at later date.
This is the second time a bonus
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