Evening star., 1935-05-04
BONUS VETO SEEN
AS SENATE SPURNS
COMPROMISE BILL
Upper House Seems Certain
to Pass Patman or
Vinson Measures.
QUICK RECESS TAKEN
WHEN DEFEAT LOOMS
Even Connally Amendment, Add
ing $9o,oOO,ooO, Fails to
Bolster Harrison Plan.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Congress appeared today to be head
Ing straight into presidential veto
on the soldiers bonus.
Administration leaders conceded
they virtually had lost their fight fol
a compromise acceptable to President
Roosevelt. They were frankly dis
mayed by the Senate's evident de-
termination to pass either the Vinson
or Patman bills, providing for full and
immediate cash payment.
Senate defeat of the compromise
proposal for which Senator Harrison
Democrat of Mississippi, had claimed
White House approval was believed
to have been averted yesterday only
by sudden adjournment over the
weekend. The recess was suggested
by Senator Robinson of Arkansas. the
Democratic leader, when confident
cash bonus forces lined up behind the
Vinson measure.
Connally Amendment Accepted
The compromise plan failed to mus
ter impressive strength even after
Harrison had agreed to an amend
ment by Senator Connally, Democrat
of Texas. which would add $50, ,000, ,000
to its cost. It was estimated that this
amendment, cutting interest charged
veterans on bonus loans from to 2
per cent. would make the bill require
total outlay Of $l,209, 900, 900.
The Veterans Administration has
estimated that the Patman bill. pro-
posing to pay the bonus in full with
new currency, would require s2,201,-
$4,000. Officials have figured that
the Vinson measure, leaving the
method of payment unspecified. would
involve an appropriation of $685.
b45,000.
Roosevelt forces worked today to
reform the broken Senate lines, but
leaders admitted privately that their
cause was almost hopeless.
Harrison Issues Warning.
Harrison warned yesterday that his
compromise was the only one Of the
three proposals that could receive
presidential approval.
He was asked by Senator Borah,
Republican, of Idaho II he had any
assurance Mr.. Roosevelt would sign
the compromise.
II haven't the slightest doubt in
the world" he replied.
AS amended by Senator Connally,
the compromise bill would give about
1920, instead of $3.50, to the average
veteran who has $1,000 bonus cer-
tif1cate against which he already has
borrowed $500. A veteran who has
a $1,000 certificate and hasn't bor-
rowed anything against 1t could OBJ
tain S770. Or he could hold his
certificate until 1945 and get $1,115.
Under the Patman or Vinson bills, 1t
b estimated, the average veteran would
get net cash payment of about $500.
Harrison Criticizes Long.
The Patman and Vinson forces in
the Senate consolidated after Senator
Thomas. Democrat, of Oklahoma
amended the Vinson bill so that it
would actually appropriate money to
pay the bonus instead of merely au-
thorizing an appropriation.
Harrison criticized Senator Long,
Democrat, Of Louisiana and other sup
porters of the Patman bill for swinging
over to the Vinson measure after op-
posing it bitterly earlier in the day.
1T amt the Vinson bill any more"
Long answered. "It's the Vinson-
Long Thomas CLARK bill now"
When Long accused the admins
tration leaders of filibustering against
the bonus bill, Robinson denied it.
The Harrison compromise was at
tackled by Senator Capper, Republican,
Of Kansas on the ground it would
scale down the bonus certificates.
The Vinson bill Is strongly backed
by the American Legion. The Patman
measure already has been approved
by the House.