Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-19
BONUS IS EXPECTED
TO PASS IN SENATE
SOME TIME TODAY
Effort to Limit Debate on
Measure Fails as Bingham
Opens Attack.
LEADERS ANTICIPATE
VETO BY PRESIDENT
No Amendments Planned in Order
to Rush Legislation to
White House.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The soldiers bonus bill is expected
to pass the Senate before that body
quits work today. Proponents of the
measure are intent upon passing the
bill in the Senate just as it came from
the House, in order that it may be
hurried to the President.
A prompt veto of the bill by President
Hoover was predicted by some of the
Republican leaders at the Capitol to-
day.
1t was predicted by one Of the Senate
leaders that "a votes would be cast
against the bonus bill when it reached
a vote in the Senate. This opposition
would be entirely from the Republican
side, it was said. except for one Demo-
crat, Senator King of Utah.
1t requires SO votes in the Senate
to sustain a Presidential veto, if the
whole membership of the Senate Is
accounted for.
Sustaining Veto Question.
Whether enough Senators would
change their attitude toward the bonus
pill in the event it is vetoed by Presi-
dent Hoover to sustain that veto was
Supporters of the bill continued to in
sist that the Senate would pass 1t over
the Presidents veto, and that the House
would do the same.
At least Is members of the Senate
have signified a desire to discuss the
bill before it is voted on. Senate leaders.
however, said they believed that most
of these speeches would be brief, and
that a vote would be reached perhaps
late this afternoon, although it might
be necessary to hold night session
finally to dispose of the bill
Although some of the supporters OF
the bonus bill continued to urge today
the need of prompt passage OF the Dill,
SO that it could be sent to President
Hoover today or tomorrow at the latest,
so that he would not be able TO give II
a pocket veto" the administration
Senators declared the President would
not attempt a pocket veto, no matter
when the bill might reach him, but
would return the bill to Congress with
out his approval almost Immediately
after it reached him.
Senator Bingham Of Connecticut,
himself a veteran of the World War
and a member Of the American Legion,
opened the debate on the bill In the
Senate with an attack on the measure.
The Connecticut Senator declared MS
WILLINGNESS to vote for a bill which
would aid World War veterans who are
actually in distress. He declined, how
ever, he said, to vote for bill which
would make it necessary for the Gov
eminent to pay out billion dollars or
more. much of it to men who are not.
in distress, at time when the Treasury
is facing a $500, 900 deficit.
Would Limit Debate.
Senator Bingham said that perhaps
he felt more free to attack the bonus
bill than others might who had not
been so lucky as to have served during
the war. He insisted that many 81 the
veterans, ike himself, feel that the pro-
posed legislation is not tusthed, grant
ing as it does the privilege OF norroW-
ing money from the Government on
their bonus certificates to hundreds OF
thousands of men who are not now IN
need. -.
Senator Bingham was beginning his
address 10 the Senate, Senator harrl-
son Ct Mississippi, supporter OF the
bonus bill, suggested that the Senate
enter into unanimous consent agree
nent to limit debate, allowing each
Senator Is minutes on the Dill aho
amendments thereto
Senator Reed of Pennsylvania. an
opponent of the bill, said that ne lett
it necessary to object to such All agree
ment, certainly until after the debate
on the bill had had an opportunity 10
get under way.
Reads Editorials.
Senator Bingham, a member OF the
Finance Committee, called attention 70
the fact that he had supported an
amendment proposed by Senator Walsh
OF Massachusetts. proposing 70 give
each needy veteran $3.50 when the oonus
bill was before the committee yester-
day. This amendment, he said, has
been voted down. The Connecticut
Senator expressed his Willingness at
ali times TO vote money or other assist
ance to veterans of the World War who
are disabled or in distress He de-
clared his strong opposition, however
10 voting at this time TO allow the able
bodied veterans of the war who are not
in distress to draw upon the Govern
ment for money.
Editorial comment on the soldiers
bonus bill in the New York World and
CONTINUED on Page 2. Column g.