Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-10
CONGRESS SPEEDS
BONUS BILL WORK
White House Declared to Be
Insisting for Some Diff
ferentiation.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Although Republican leaders of the
House Of Representatives have publicly
conceded that they will favor some form
of soldier bonus legislation with loan;
even up to a half billion dollars, this
Is by no means a reflection of the at
titude of the White House or the Treas
ury Department.
The position of the administration is
that Government finances. are not In
condition at this time to be loaded down
with further obligations and that the
flotation of certificates to increase the
loan value on the veterans insurance
policies must be kept down to as low a
figure as possible.
On Capitol Hill there is a DISPOSE
ton to avoid any distinction between
the veterans in need and those who
may wish to borrow on their insurance
policies. But at the Executive end OF
the Government some such diferentia-
ton is advocated, particularly with the
idea that the Veterans Bureau can
ascertain just which veterans are in
need.
Similar TO Young Plan.
The so-called Young plan practically
recommended the same thing, but in
dicated that fully a half billion dollars
might be required for the purpose
The administration is aware that pres
sure in Congress for some form of SOL
der bonus legislation is intense and
that bill Of some kind will be pre-
sented at the White House for sigma
ture or veto at this session.
The letter of the Secretary Of the
Treasury sent to committees of the SEN
ate and the House outlines the admin
istration's point of view. and it is i'm
probable that anything more will be said
on the subject until both houses have
acted. The chances are that the House
bill will provide for an appropriation
not to exceed half billion dollars, and
that the Senate will pass measure fol
payment in full at this time of the
three-and-a-half- billion dollar obliga-
ton.
This will furnish an opportunity when
the Conference Committee meets to iror
out differences and reach compromise
made by the administration, when the
bill is in conference, to secure the adop-
ton Of plan requiring less than q hall
billion dollars, and 1t appears certain
that unless the administrators pro-
posals at that time are accepted a veto
viii follow. Passage over the veto
would seem to be assured II the amount
to De appropriated does not exceed q
half billion dollars.
House Working on Plan.
House leaders meanwhile are trying
to draft a measure which will win presi-
dental approval, though from the point
of view Of strategy it is unlikely that
the White House will approve or dis
approve any bonus bill until after 1t has
had an opportunity to know what the
Senate will really do.
Certainly the issue will have TO BIZ
disposed Of II there is not going to be
an extra session, as there are plenty
of Senators who would rather have
an extra session than to let the soldier
bonus legislation die. A report from
the House committee is expected this
week and debate on the measure will
be forthcoming in the Senate almost
Immediately thereafter. Thus far the
Senate has been waiting on the House
because revenue measures must origin
ate in the latter body.
Copyright, 1879