The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-11-16
MEMBERS OF House
DECLARED Strong
FOR Cash PAYMENT
Senate Is Seen as Biggest
Hurdle; Compromise May
Be Forced There
SURVEY SHOWS SENTIMENT
Roosevelt Expected to Hold
Key in Final Decision;
Attitude Uncertain
Copyright. 1884, by the Associated
preSSl

Washington, Nov. l6.-(F-A sur
vey OF congressional sentiment shows
the house overwhelmingly favors cash
payment Of the soldiers bonus and
that the fate Of the legislation rests
almost entirely in the senate.
It also strongly suggests the posi-
bility Of a compromise.
The survey conducted by the As
ISOLATED Press, shows $50 representa-
tives in favor Of the bonus and ~
against. OF the remaining members,
ali non-committal or unavailable, 90
voted for the bonus last session. SO
opposed 1t and IS did not vote.
The senate lineup divides evenly,
with "a for the bonus and "a against.
The balance Of power tests with the
remainder, all either noncommittal or
unreachable. There was no clear-cut
vote in the senate last session on
which to base q further tally.
Speculation on how the doubtful
senators will vote is inconclusive.
Many Of them are pledged to support
the administration and might be ex-
pected to follow President Roosevelt.
Some have voted for cash payment
in the past.
Two Conflicting Factors
While the check in the house indi-
Gates q division similar to the over
whelming vote of 295 to 125 for the
bonus in the last session, two con-
flicting factors may cause changes.
Since then President Roosevelt's
administration has gathered new
strength at the polls, despite strong
hint Of q bonus veto.
Countering this, the American
Legion has come out for cash pay
nent for the first time.
Some observers believe that factors
which may settle tho issue In con-
gress are: whether the president
sets his face against Ill bonus pro-
posals or offers to compromise; and
the force of the drive conducted by
the Legion and other service organ
izations.
Several suggestions along tho oom-
promise line were made by members
Of congress in the survey.
The most frequently proposed was
cancellation Of interest on the ad-
justed service certificates, with many
who oppose cash payment Of the full
face value offering to support such
q move. The certificates mature in
II years, and it has been estimated
more than $4,000, 000, 900 would be
needed to pay in full now.
Take Care OF Needy
Another suggestion made q num-
Der Of times, usually by those oppos-
ing immediate cash payment IN full.
was for cashing the certificates Of
those veterans In need or on relief
rolls.
The part to be played by the AM
erican Legion, with its powerful in
fluenoe at the capitol, will be decided
next week at Indianapolis by its ma
tional executive committee.
While the national convention
recommended cash payment, it also
urged IS other legislative moves, and
il. will be up to the executive COM
mittee to decide which to push
hardest.
In replying to the Associated Press,
several members Of congress indi-
Gated the governments heavy ex-
penditures influence them to vote for
the bonus, even though some have
opposed 1t in the past.
Senator Dickson Rep, Iowa. said
he favored immediate cash payment
instead Of appropriating for more
public works.
There were many conditional
pledges for the bonus, including those
Of votes for it II the condition Of the
treasury warranted.