The Monmouth inquirer. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1865-1933, 1924-05-01
SENATE PASSES
I BONUS, SIT
Measure, Similar to That Passed
by House, win Go to Coolidge
After Conference.
CASH REFUSED BY 4s TO 81
Enough Votes Seen to Override Veto
Money Payments Up to $50 Grant
ed at once and Certificates win
Issue on July I, 1925.

Washington. Following the defeat
Of the Copeland cash option amend
ment by a vote OF 4S to 81. the Sen
ate passed the soldier bonus bill
based on the endowment insurance
certificate plan. On the final roll call
the vote was 81 to II. Eight Repub-
licans and nine Democrats voted
against the measure.
Against the 3o1us-f7
Republicans. Ball, Borah, Edge,
Ernst, Fernald. Pepper, Smoot. Wads-
worth.
Democrats. Bayard. Bruce.
Dial, Edwards, Glass, King. Shields.
Swanson, Underwood.
OF the twelve Senators absent four
were paired for the bill. with four
against it, and four were without
pairs.
The bill as passed by the Senate
closely resembles the House measure.
There will be an early agreement in
conference and the bill will soon go
to President Coolidge for acceptance
or rejection. Opinion is divided
whether the President will sign the
measure or veto it. Should he veto
1t. the bonus leaders declare there
are votes in 3ight at both ends of
the Capitol to enact the measure
over the veto.
Much of the controversy certered
about the question of cash option.
Many Of the Democrats insisted that
without the cash option the bill was
a farce.
There is no difference between the
Senate and House on the main fea-
lures of the Bonus Bill Each has
approved the major provisions. which
are:
Cash payments to veterans whose
adjusted compensations would not ex-
coed $50.
Twenty-year endowment insurance
policies based on adjusted service
pay at the rate Of 81 day for domes-
tic service and $1.25 for overseas serv-
fee.
A veteran after period of two
years from the date Of his insurance
certificate could obtain loans from
banks up to 30 per cent of the current
cash value of the certificate.
The more important amendments
written into the House bill by the
Senate were:
That cash payments be made avail
able Immediately, instead of nine
months from the date OF enactment
of the measure.
That the insurance certificates
would issue after July 1. 1925. instead
of after Jan. l, 1925.
That veterans should be relieved of
paying compound interest to the
Treasury upon redemption of certifi-
Gates which had been allowed to
lapse as security for bank loans.
Placing entire control Of the admin
istration Of the act under the Direc-
tor Of the Veterans Bureau instead
of under the Secretary of War and
Secretary of the Navy.
Eliminating employees Of the Pub
lie Health Service from the benefits
of the bill.
Making the legislation applicable to
female yeomen 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. Senator'S Underwood,
Of Alabama. and Glass. OF Virginia,
Democrats. led the opposition to any
kind OF bonus legislation. Senator
Underwood spoke for an hour, char
acterizing the insurance proposition
as a sham and fraud" ind urging
that the Senate give attention to tax
reduction rather than to bonus legis-
lation.
On the final roll-call the opposition
dwindled to comparatively small
number Several Senators who had
been bitter opponents OF a bonus
threw their support back of the insur-
ance plan.