DILEMMA, Washington, June, 23.
Leaders of the various Senate groups conferred hurriedly to-day fin an attempt to decide as to what their procedure should be with reference to the World War Pension Bill, in view of President Hoover's hostile attitude and the prediction by various officials that there will bbe an increase in taxes if the measure is passed, The Administration's stand places supporters of the bill in an extraordinarily diffeult position, for whereas they had expected to reap many votes from grateful veterans this autumn if the bill went through, they are now confronted with possible anger of the ele:- torate because of an increased tax levy.
In spite of previous declarations by President Hoover and other Ad~ ministration leaders that enactment of the Veterans' Bill would saddle additional taxation upon the people of the United States and pre-Vent proposed tax reductions, the Senate to-day passed the bill.
President Hoover is expected to veto the measure.
As passed, the dill included a committee amendment, but the Sen-fate rejected Senator David A. Reed's substitute bill embodying the American Legion's proposals! and meeting President Hoover's objections, Senator Houston inquired when ther. leprosy was included among the diseases eligible for benefits and provided that any: ind compensation under the bill,
Weleran affected with leprosy prior to January 1, 1990, would be eli-idle if it could be' presumed that he acquired the disability in service between April 6, 1917, and July 2, 192i.
Administration estimates give the initial annual cost of the measure as G.$102,000,000, with an eventual annual cost of G.250,000,- 000. Promised tax reductions must igo by the board if the bill is passed over the President's. veto, it is expected.
President Hoover and others have Jong been appeted to the bill as a measure designed purely to catch votes, and out of harmony with the " fundamental American theory that pensions and similar payments should be given only to those who actually suffered Injuries in the service of their country or who were destitute.
Tune 24, President Hoover toviay issued 0 denunciation of the War 'Veterans' Bill which was passed by' the Senate by an overwhelming vote yesterday.
This is construed as positive indication that the President intends' to veto the measure, basing his action on the points that the bill is out of line with traditional American policy in aiding only those veterans Who are destitute or suffering from injury incurred in the service their country, and the overwhelming extra tax burden which it will pose on the people of the United States.
The Admipistratien's revelation of costs in this connection, coupled with publicity which has been given the allegedly over-liberal provisions of the bill in recognizing disabilities at dates remote from the close of the war, has admittedly placed Congress in an embarrassing position in facing the electorate at the polls next autumn.
With the Senate voting for the bill 66 to 6, however, an over-riding the veto seems at least possible although it is believed that a certain Proportion of the votes will change over in such contingency, "After three-hour caucus to-day, 154 Republican members of the House of Representatives pledged themselves (0 support President Hoover's anticipated veto of the Veterans Bill, on the understanding that a substitute Pension Bill wil! be passed before adjournment.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.