Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-18
Measure Will Come Up To-
morrow by. Consent-Veto
Considered Likely in View Of
Presidents Statement.
LETTER TO SMOOT PUTS
COST AT ABOUT BILLION
Executive Would Limit Loans to
Veterans Actually in Need-Sees
Return of Prosperity Possibly
Retarded by Extra Treasury
Financing Necessary.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Hoover today hit out
strongly in opposition to the
House soldiers bonus bill.
His language, contained in a
letter to Senator Smcot, chairman
of the Finance Committee, was
interpreted as meaning that if the
bill is sent him in the form it
passed the House he will veto the
measure.
If the measure were amended
SO as to provide for loans Oh their
adjusted compensation certificates
only to these veterans in distress
today, it would be more acceptable
to the Chief Executive.
The one appealing argument for this
legislation is for veterans in distress, -
said the President.
Within an hour after receiving the
letter, the committee reported the bill
without change.
Comes Up Tomorrow.
The Senate agreed by unanimous con-
sent to take up the bonus bill as soon
as it meets tomorrow.
The request for unanimous consent
was made by Senator Harrison of Mis-
siSsippi. a Democrat, soon after the
bonus bill had been reported from the
finance committee to the Senate. Sen
ator Howell of Nebraska. Republican;
Senator Trammell of Florida and Sem
ator Harris of Georgia, both Democrats.
suggested it would be wise to take the
bill up today. In the end. however, the
Harrison proposal prevailed.
Senator Smoot declared that there
was no intention on his. part to delay
final action on the bonus bill, and ex-
pressed the opinion that it would be
brought to a vote before the close Of
business tomorrow.
Vote Is IL to 3.
The committee voted 1873 to report
the bill.
Soon after the Senate met. Chairman
Smoot formally reported the bill on
behalf of the committee.
All amendments, of which there were
several, were voted down by the COM
mittee. The purpose of the majority
of the committee in turning down all
amendments is TO speed the passage Of
the bill as it was put through the
House. It's passage by the Senate ap-
peared inevitable.
Three members of the committee who
voted against r-porting the bill were
Chairman Smoot, Senator Reed OF
Pennsylvania and Senator Bingham OF
Connecticut, all Republicans. Senator
King of Utah, Democrat, withheld his
vote.
Those Favoring Bill.
Those Senators voting TO report the
bill favorably wer-: watson, Indiana !;
Shortridge, California; CouZens, Michi-
gan; Keyes, New Hampshire: La Fol-
1ette. Wisconsin, and Thomas, Idaho.
Republicans Simmons, North Carolina
Harrison, Mississippi: George, Georgia :;
Walsh, Massachusetts,; Barley, Ken
lucky; Thomas Oklahoma, and Con-
nally, Texas, Democrats.
An amendment offered by Senator
Reed proposing that loans should be
made only TO those who had already
borrowed, was defeated. II to 5. An
amendment offered by Senator Walsh.
authorizing the Government to pay $50
cash to veterans in distress was de-
feated. to.8.
Senator Thomas proposed an amend
ment TO strike out the interest on loans
previously made TO veterans. This was
lost, l3 to 3.
Senator King proposed an amend
ment TO place the burden of proof on
the veterans TO show that they were in
need before they could obtain loans
under the bill. This lost, 10 TO Z.
Treasury Burden Stated.
After a detailed statement of the
financial burden which the House bill
would place upon the country with the
need Of raising an additional 81 000.-
Continued on Page 2. Column 3D.