Alexandria Gazette

PRICE TWO CENTS

REFUNDING BILL

PASSES SENATE

DEFEAT BONUS

Senators Borah, La Follette and Norris Break

Party Lines

DEBT MEASURE WINS

Two Amendments on Soldier Compensation Are Voted Down When Bonus Bill Fails

Washington, D. C., Feb. 1.--After voting down the soldiers' bonus, the Senate last night passed the $1,100,000,000 foreign debt refunding bill virtually in the form recommended by the administration.

The soldiers' bonus question came up on two amendments, one offered by Senator Simmons of North Carolina and another offered by Senator Jones of New Mexico. The Simmons amendment provided for use of the interest on the allied loans to pay the soldiers. It was tabled by a vote of 42 to 28.

The Jones amendment provided for a bonus to be paid directly out of the Treasury. It was beaten 42 to 21.

The refunding bill itself was carried by a vote of 39 to 25. Three Republicans—Borah, LaFollette and Norris—broke away from party lines and joined the Democrats in opposition to the measure.

The line-up of the Senate on the bonus question was as follows:

For tabling the bonus:

Republicans—Ball, Borah, Bursum, Calder, Cameron, Capper, Colt, Cummins, Curtis, Dillingham, Elkins, Ernst, Fernald, Gooding, Hale, Harreld, Jones (Washington), Kellogg, Keyes, Lenroot, McCormick, McCumber, McKinley, McLean, McNary, Moses, Nelson, Oddie, Page, Pepper, Poindexter, Smoot, Spencer, Sterling, Sutherland, Townsend, Wadsworth, Warren, Watson (Indiana) and Willis. Total, 40.

Democrats—King and Myers. Total, 2.

Against tabling:

Republicans—Johnson, LaFollette, Norris. Total, 3.

Democrats—Ashurst, Broussard, Caraway, Fletcher, Glass, Harris, Harrison, Heflin, Hitchcock, Jones (New Mexico), McKellar, Overman, Pittman, Pomerene, Ransdell, Reed, Robinson, Sheppard, Shields, Simmons, Stanley, Swanson, Walsh (Massachusetts), Walsh (Montana), and Watson (Georgia). Total, 25.

In the debate preceding the vote on the bonus amendments, Senator Simmons declared that no excuse could be offered for further postponement of doing justice to the world war veterans. He stated that the question had been put up to the Senate three times, and that it was becoming evident that the administration had no intention of allowing a bonus.

Senator McCumber of North Dakota, Republican, chairman of the Finance Committee, informed the Senate that a bill was now on the legislative ways to give the soldiers adjusted compensation. He predicted that it would be passed at an early date and that President Harding would sign it. He urged the Senate not to 'tie up' the bonus with the foreign debt refunding bill.

'For my own part,' said Senator McCumber, 'I do not want to jeopardize the bonus by attaching it to a bill which I do not know the President will sign while there is such a good prospect of prompt passage of a bonus which I am certain will receive the President's approval.'

Senator Watson of Indiana, Republican, likewise predicted prompt and favorable action on the bonus. In view of this prospect, he moved to table the Simmons amendment. His motion stirred up a hot legislative tilt. Democratic Senators characterized it as unethical and charged that it violated the spirit of the pending unanimous consent agreement. Senator Pittman of Nevada, Democrat, served notice that if the motion prevailed there would be no more unanimous consent agreements. The motion prevailed, nevertheless.