Evening star., 1936-01-18
Leaders to Press for Baby
Bond Payment Despite
Presidents Position. 4
DEBATE LIMIT PLACED
TO SPEED UP ACTION
Democratic Chiefs Who Favor
Measure Concede Only Is
Votes to Opposition.
BACKGROUND

Major political issue for some
IS years, question OF paying bonus
nUGrd to American Ueterdns OF
World War has plagued eUery dd-
miniStrdtion since that OF Hard
ing; seems heading for settlement
this Winter.
With united support OF three
principal UeterGns' organizations,
bill for immediate cash payment
uds passed last Ueek by House.
On Tuesday Senate Finance Com
mittee approved measure proUidtng
payment in baby bonds, cdShable
this year but carrying 3 per cent
premium If held until 1916. Vet
erGns' groups also expressed salts
faction NTH this plan.
President Roosevelt, Dho Uetoed
cash bill last year, has declined
comment on pending legislation.
BY the Associated Press.
Flatly declaring the baby bond bonus
payment bill will become law whether
President Roosevelt vetoes it or not,
champions Of the measure drove it
toward an imminent Senate vote to-
day.
Administration leaders confidently
predicted it would sweep to passage
in the chamber before the day was
out To hasten the vote the Senate
had agreed that drastic two-hour
curb on debate would go into effect
in mid-afternoon. Democratic chiefs
who favor the bill conceded only Is
votes to the opposition out of 90-odd
expected to be cast.
Forecasts were heard that the bill,
which offers cashable $50 bonds to
pay of around $4,000 900 900 of ad-
Unstable service certificates, would gain
quick concurrence by the House.
House in Receptive Mood.
That branch passed bill last week
also providing for full and immediate
payment of the 1945 maturity value of
the certificates. but omitted method
of payment. The Senate bill provides
that the bonds may be cashed on or
after next June IS. Speaker Byrns
has said the House was 'in humor"
to accept this bill in place of its own.
Three amendments stood in the way
of q final Senate vote today-that Of
Senator Thomas, Democrat, of Okla
homa, authorizing the President 20
use new currency to discharge the
veterans debt: another by Senator
King, Democrat, of Utah to pay only
the present or cash surrender value
of the certificates, and third by Sem
ator Schwellenbach, Democrat. Of
Washington providing that bonus re-
cipients shall still be eligible for work
relief
Only the latter had a chance Of
adoption. administration leaders said.
In urging his amendment late yes
terday, Thomas said the bond bill
sponsored by Senators Harrison, DEM
ocrat, of Mississippi; Byrnes, Demo-
crat, Of South Carolina; Steiwer. Re-
publican, Of Oregon and Clark, Demo-
crat, of Missouri "out-Patmans the
Patman bill." the inflationary measure
vetoed last session.
Thomas said the coalition measure
might ultimately cost the Govern
ment 81 ,000, 900 900 because Of interest
charges and other factors. For one
thing, he contended, the Government
might have to borrow, under the pres
ent bill, to pay interest charges TO
veterans who elect to hold their baby
bonds as an investment. Such vet
Grams will receive 3 per cent interest
until 1945
IF Uncle Sam is behind this bill, 80
he asserted, he ought to 90 over to
ali insane asylum until he recuperateS.
I'm for this bill as far as the soldiers
| are concerned, but I'm against it so
far as the taxpayers are concerned"
Few Senators listened to Thomas
speech, but a representative of Father
Charles E. Coughlin sat in the gallery
taking notes whenever questions were
| asked.
Harrison conceded there was "indi-
rect imitation" in his bill.
If billion or half billion is
cashed in, to that extent it is infla-
tionary," he told Senator ShipStead.
| Farmer-LaD0r, OF Minnesota.
Harrison repeated on the floor what
he had told newspaper men previously
that the bond bill would become law
whether President Roosevelt signed it
or not"
Senator Couzens, Republican, Of
Michigan, an opponent of the measure,
tried in vain to get the Mississippian
to say the President had agreed to
sign the bill.
Harrison agreed he had visited the
White House, but said the Executive
had not disclosed to any one what
he would do.
'I think he can sign this bill, and I
hope in good faith he WILL" he as
serted.