Evening star., 1935-05-07
80 Democrats, 13 Repub-
Iicans, ! Farmer-Labor
and ! Progressive Side
track Compromise.
DRIVE FOR PATHWAYS
MEASURE IS OPENED
Veto Threatens Both Choices Be-
fore Upper Branch-Amend-
ments Possible to Effect Partial
Agreement Between Separate
Camps.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

The Vinson bill for payment Of tn
soldiers bonus, backed by the Ameri-
can Legion, was voted by the Senat
today as substitute for the Harrison
compromise bill. The vote was 54 to 80.
The struggle in the Senate now
comes between the Vinson bill and the
Patman bill. The vote will be on
motion to substitute the Vinson bill for
the Patman bill, which passed the
House. The latter provides for pay
ment Of bonus with "greenbacks,"
Treasury notes.
The vote on the motion OF Senator
Clark, Democrat of Missouri, to sub
stitute the Vinson bill for the Harrison
compromise came soon after the
Senate met at noon. The Harrison
compromise, which, it is understood,
President Roosevelt might have ap-
proved, was opposed by the veterans
organizations generally. When the
friends of the Vinson bill and Of the
Patman bill combined against the
Harrison measure it was doomed to
defeat.
Veto Promised.
The action of the Senate seems to
insure passage of bill for immediate
cash payment of the bonus, to be fol-
lowed by presidential veto.
The roll call on the Clark motion
showed 80 Democrats, Is Republicans,
l Farmer-Labor and Progressive vot-
ing for the Vinson bill.
Voting for the Harrison bin were
% Democrats and 8 Republicans.
Just before the vote was taken
Senator Couzens, Republican, of Michi-
gan, announced he intended to vote
against the Vinson bill, but that his
vote did not mean he was In favor
of the Harrison compromise.
"I am against the Vinson, Cochran
and Harrison bills" said Senate
CouZenS.
Patman Drive Opens.
As soon as the Vinson plan ha
been approved, the drive to Substi-
tute the Patman bill began with Sen
ator Thomas, Democrat, of Oklahoma,
explaining the difference.
"In order to get the money to pay
the Vinson bill, we have got to sell
bonds and pay interest at whatever
rate it takes to get the money"
Thomas began, I'm the Patman bill
we propose to issue United States
notes. in other words, we propose to
pay the costs exactly as the United
States financed the Civil War.
Thomas argued that the bonus could
be paid now for about $4,000, ,000, 900
through the issuance of currency, but
that it would cost more over period
of years by the bond-iSsue method.
Then followed a colloquy between
Thomas and Barkley of Kentucky over
the amount of money already in cir
culation, with the Kentucky Senator
pointing out that the banks already
have greater credit facilities than are
being utilized.
Strategy Unfolds.
The strategy of Senators supporting
President Roosevelt in his opposition
to the Vinson and Patman bills had
become apparent by the time the
Senate met today. The administration
supporters voted "No" when the roll
was called on the motion to substitute
the Vinson bill and also planned to
vote mo" on the Patman bill. If the
Vinson bill fails to supplant the Pat
man bill, then the vote will come on
the passage of the Patman bill, and
here again the administration support
ers will vote mo"
The administration supporters would
prefer to see the Patman bill passed
and sent to the President instead OF
the Vinson bill. Their preference lies
in the fact a presidential veto Of the
Patman bill would be easier to sustain
than would a veto Of the Vlnson bill.
Amendments Possible.
Should the Vinson bill be turned
down in the Senate in favor Of the
Patman bill, undoubtedly efforts will
be made to amend the Patman bill
and some form of compromise reached.
The Vinson bill continued to be the
favorite in the betting as to which
measure finally will pass the Senate.
Senators today were receiving q
flock of kilograms, sent in response
to the appeal made by Father Charles
E. Couglin of Detroit for support Of
the Patman bill.
The inflationists in the Senate are
leading the fight for this measure.
The Upper House twice in the past
has defeated a bill similar to the
present Patman bill when it came up
for q vote, although not during the