Evening star., 1935-12-19
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

Speaker Byrns said today he be-
lieved both Senate and House would
dispose of the cash bonus issue by
February l.
Returning with other congressional
leaders from a trip to the Philippine
Islands. Byrns told reporters he
thought it very clear" both Houses
would pass bonus legislation.
Vice President Garner, another
member of the delegation that went
to the Philippines to observe inaugural
ton of the new commonwealth gov
ernment. said he was glad to be back
on land again" but declined to COM
ment on legislative questions He was
scheduled to have lunch with President
Roosevelt.
Chairman Doughton of the House
Ways and Means Committee. another
member of the delegation, also was
back at the Capitol
Type of Bill Uncertain.
Speaker Byrns was unwilling to
name the type Of bonus bill he believes
will be enacted, nor would he predict
that it could be passed over a veto.
He said. however, that should the in
flation element be removed, the bonus
would have a better chance of over
riding a veto in both House and Sem
ate.
Byrns said he saw no reason on
earth" why Congress should be in ses-
sion after May /, but added, with a
grin: "Of course, nobody knows what
is going to develop after Christmas"
Meanwhile. Senator McKeIlar, DEM
ocrat. of Tennessee, ranking member
of the Senate Appropriations Com
mittee and long a bonus advocate,
said payment of the S2,OOO,O0O, 900
bonus would be no threat" to a re
turn of a balanced budget" He also
said he thought it could be paid
without taxing the people to any
great extent"
He said he looked forward to such
an increase in business that the Gov
ernment's income, under present laws,
will be sufficient to take care of the
bonus.
1t was indicated an attempt may be
made to put through the Byrnes-
Steiwer bonus bill i'll the Senate before
the House takes any bonus action.
Byrnes Seeks Compromise.
Senator Byrnes of South Carolina,
coSponsor of this measure, was at the
White House today, presumably try
ing to work out some compromise on
the bill that would meet the approval
of the President. This measure pro-
vides for issuance of bonds that could
be caShed at a reduction if the holder
needed money.
Speaker Byrns has been told Sem
stor Byrnes has promised to bring
his bill sup in the Senate 10 days
after the session opens
The House is expected to act jan
uary l3 on a motion to discharge the
committee considering the in1ation-
airy Patman bonus bill. Speaker
Byrns indicated his belief the House
might act favorably on the Vinson
bonus bill if it is supported by the
American Legion. Byrns expects to
CU1lAGI isEAb NGCh Will 6A4C 4CoAACAAb
on the bonus question.
The Byrnes-Steiwer bill has the
support of the Veterans of Foreign
Wars.
Terms Bonus Legacy"
w. Richardson Blair, jr., of Phila-
delphia, National Economy League
officer, today called the bonus a
Legacy" and opposed immediate pay
ment. In a letter to Ray Murphy,
commander of the American Legion,
Blair said there were 100000 young
men and women between 81 and 35
who would have to pay the BILL
Questioned about the Townsend old
age pension plan, Speaker Byrns said
passage by the House was unlikely.
Personally, have no objection to a
vote on the plan" Byrns said.
Townsend proposes S200-a-month
pension to those over so years old.