The Indianapolis times., 1936-01-10
Entire Hoosier Delegation
Lines Up for Soldiers
Payment Act.
ROOSEVELT is SILENT
Bill Sponsored by Legion,
V. of F. w. and by
Disabled Veterans.
By United Press

DISABLED veterans.
By United Press
WASHINGTON, Jan. TO-
Overwhelming support swept
the $3,50O,O0O,0OO united
front cash bonus bill to House
passage today, just one week
after convening of the second
session of the Seventy-fourth
Congress.
The House approved the
bill by a vote announced as
355 to SO. 1t was one of the
largest pro-bonus totals ever
rolled up in the chamber.
All Indiana congressman voted
for bonus payment.
1t was the first pro-bonus vote cast
by Reps. Boehne and Pettengill. The
former had previously announced
that he would vote for payment if
it was not connected with none
tary initiation.
Rep. Pettingill was undecided un-
til the roll call. He was on the
| floor but did not vote on the first
call. When names of those not
recorded were recalled, Rep. Pet
tingill voted AYE"
The measure now goes to the SEN
ate, where bonus leaders are racing
with neutrality advocates in an eff
fort to bring the issue to vote be-
fore the end of next week.
Vote Is Not Vetoed
If President Roosevelt vetoes the
bill, repassage over the veto is ex-
pected by bonus adherents.
The final vote came after sup
porters of the bill, which is in
tended to settle finally the bonus
issue after II years of congress
sional strife, beat down efforts of
tall, silver-haired Rep. Allen T.
TreadWay (R., Mass.) to provide
payment of the bonus from unex-
pended or unallocated emergency
relief appropriations.
Republicans and Democrats united
as the Vinson-Patman-M McC Cormack
bill was showed along to passage.
1t was untouched and unchanged
by amendments
3,463,0OO Veterans Affected
The bill carries an authorization
for full and immediate cash pay
ment of veterans certificates. It
does not specify how the money
shall be raised to pay them. Pro-
ponentS say the bill will require only
$1,000, 100000 in additional cash
outlay.
Inflationary forces took up the
battle Immediately to force payment
through issuance of new currency
against huge gold reserves now in
the Treasury. Rep. Wright Pat
man Cd, Tex), one of the spons-
ors of the united front bill, is lead
ing the currency expansion battle.
The united front bill affects ap-
proximately 3,463,0o0 World War
veterans. They hold certificates
with total face value of about
$4,000, 100000. or about $1,000 a man.
Supporters claim that the tre-
mendous cash flow would pour into
every state, increasing purchasing
power and stimulating economic re-
covery.
Other Measures Vetoed
In urging approval of the meas
ure, the House Ways and Means
Committee pointed out that 1890
ex-veterans have died since the
World War and that 500,0 900 prob.
ably will have died by 1e45, and
that "they will never receive their
bonus unless Congress acts now"
Scores of bonus bills have been
introduced in Congress, since the
close of the war.
More than 100 were introduced
during the Sixty-eighth Congress
convening March 4, 1919. Bonus
bills in the past have been vetoed
by or failed in Congress during ADJ
ministrations of Presidents Hard
ing, Coolidge and Hoover.
Passage in the Senate is conceded,
but President Roosevelt, who, like
Presidents Harding, Coolidge and
Hoover. before him, vetoed the cash
payment proposal last session, re-
manned silent as to his attitude.
None of his leaders in Congress
would presume to speak for him.
1
Senate Passage Conceded
House leaders predicted there
were sufficient votes to override
presidential veto if necessary. In
the Senate, where the fight is closer.
high leaders sought new bill more
likely of presidential signature.
Senate Majority Leader Joseph T.
Robinson 3D., Ark and Senator
Pat Harrison Cd, Miss), chairman
Of the Finance Committee. were re-
ported to have conferred secretly
about a new bill.
The bonus measure passed by the
House today was the fourth ap-
proved by that body since the fa-