Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1912 — PRESIDENT SENDS IN THIRD VETO [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENT SENDS IN THIRD VETO

Returns Judicial Bill Without His Approval. HOLDS UP HIS OWN SALARY House Falls to Override President — Measure Would Drop Commerce Court and Limit Civil Service Tenure. . Washington, Aug. 16. —The house bailed to pass the legislative, executive and judicial appropriation bill over the veto of President Taft by a vote of 153 to 107. The defection of seventeen Democrats, who ignored the appeal of Leader Underwood and other Democratic leaders, prevented the house from passing the bill containing a clause limiting government employes to seven year terms and abolishing the commerce court. Thirteen • Progressive Republicans voted on the Democratic side. Veto Will Prolong Session. The president’s veto is sure to prolong the session of congress. One effect of the veto is to hold up his own pay, that of every member of congress, every federal judge and every employe of the United States courts. Some leaders have proposed a plan of passing a resolution to extend all last year's appropriations to December 2 and adjourn congress without passing the bill. When the reading of the veto was over Representative Stephens of Nebraska, Democrat, introduced a resolution for the passage of any vetoed measure by a majority vote. A twothirds vote of both houses is required at present. Mr. Stephens declared Mr. Taft had used the veto power more than it had been used in the first half-century of the nation’s history. He added that the president of France had no veto power, and that while the king of England enjoyed the privilege he “had not dared to use it” for 220 years. Condemn Congress’ Action. Mb. Taft’s message was strong in Its condemnation of the way congress had attached special legislation to an annual appropriation bill. The president wrote that he approved any system of promoting efficiency in the civil service and favored a civil pension system, but he could not approve any legislation to turn out of office employes who had given their best yearp to the government. The president defended the commerce court vigorously and wrote that opposition to it came from those who had not been in sympathy with its decisions. , In his message Mr. Taft said: “The importance and absolute necessity of furnishing funds to maintain and operate the government cannot be used by the congress to force upon the executive acquiescence In permanent legislation which he cannot conscientiously approve. “I am utterly opposed to the abolition of a court because its decisions may not always meet the approval of a piajority of the legislature. It Is Introducing a recall of the judiciary which in its way is quite as objectionable as the ordinary popular method proposed." Disagree on Steel and Wool. An effort to reach an agreement to dispose of the steel and wool tariff revision bills already passed by the house over the president's veto failed in the senate. Republican leaders decided to call in absent members to meet any attempt by the Democrats to repass the vetoed bills. Telegrams were dispatched to all absentees within easy reaching distance of Washington to return to the capital. The Republican force has been depleted greatly (during the last two weeks. Complete disagreement between the house and senate on the sugar tariff bills was outlined in a conference report on the measure presented to the senate by Senator Penrose. This indicates there will be no sugar legislation at this session.