Evening star., 1935-03-21
ROOSEVELT FIRM
ON BONUS ISSUE
AS VOTE NEARS
BuIkIey Gives White House
Attitude Concerning
Compromise.
MAJORITY PREDICTED
FOR CASH PAYMENT
Senator Says He Sees No 1ndica-
ton President Will Back
Legislation.

A proposal that the controversial
bonus issue be disposed Of through
compromise was made to President
Roosevelt today by Senator Bulkley,
Democrat. of Ohio. but the Chief Ex
ecutive was reported still firmly
against immediate payment.
He didn't indicate any change in
his altitude" the Senator said after
the conference
He went to the White House just
as the House renewed debate on the
legislation in an effort to begin voting
as soon as possible on amendments to
the 81 1000 600, 900 proposal.
House leaders predicted a substan-
tial majority for cash payment. The
Patman bill would meet the expense
by issuing new money. The Vinson
bill leaves the method of payment up
to the Government.
Initiates Compromise.
Bulkley. an opponent OF immediate
cash payment. Saic he initiated the
compromise discussion.
Il talked of the possibility of doing
something to get the issue disposed OF.
have voted in the past against
present cash payment and am ready
to stand by again on that point, but
1 do hope We can do something that
will be measurably satisfactory TO both
sides"
Representative Reilly. Democrat, of
Wisconsin said he would stand by his
campaign pledge to give 100 per cent
support to President Roosevelt's recov-
cry program in face of threats that
he would be elected to stay home In
1886" if he failed to vote for either
the Patman or Vinson bonus bill.
If I 60 into political retirement
because OF my vote in this hour and
in this crisis in support OF the only
program for saving what is best in
our economic and political system, l
shall go there with the consciousness
that 1 have done my duty. and shall
have the consolation of knowing that
In my political exile from Washington
1 shall have the company of my self
respect" Reilly said.
Fears Credit Impairment.
He added he would be pleased to
vote for a bill providing for bonus pay
ments to unemployed veterans, but
expressed fear the Governments credit
would be impaired by adding another
two billion dollars to the national debt.
A ''compromise" proponent was Rep
resentative McReynOlds, Democrat. OF
Tennessee, close friend OF the admins
tration. whose bill was drafted by the
Veterans Administration.
A quorum call had filled the floor
when McReynolds arose TO discuss his
plan. under which negotiable, interest
bearing bonds would be exchanged for
the adjusted compensation certificates
which veterans now hold.
My purpose in offering this bill"
he said, was to try in some way to
reach q compromise by which we can
do something for the soldiers. I be-
lieve every man who has made an
investigation knows that neither the
Vinson nor the Patman bill can be-
come law this Congress.
I think a compromise can be
reached. and 1 think one should be
reached before interest on what they
have borrowed eats up the balance of
the bonus"
Plan Illustrated.
McReynolds explained that under
his plan a veteran who held an ad-
justed compensation certificate with a
l945 value of $1,000 would get $3.50
in negotiable bonds and Sl8.24 in
cash. BY l945, however. those in
terest-bearing bonds would have a
value, he said, of 1898.
so the veteran who didn't sell his
bonds would get only 81 less than his
certificate would bring" he added.
With the legislators meeting at IL
am. the hope was that the voting
could start about pm. There were
no indications. however, that the
House would arrive at a choice be-
tween the two major cash payment
billS-the Patman and the Vinson-
American Legion meaSures-before
tomorrow at the earliest
Bonds Compromise Asked.
A plea for the Tydings-Andrews-
Cochrane McReynolds compromise
plan to pay in negotiable bonds in
stead of cash was voiced yesterday by
Representative Cochran, Democrat, of
Missouri. He said:
The President will not sign the
Patman bill or the Vinson bill. and
there are not enough votes in the Sen
ata tn mss them nNer his veto"