Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 18, Number 6, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 January 1948 — ANTI BILL IS LOST AT WHITE HOUSE [ARTICLE]

ANTI BILL IS LOST AT WHITE HOUSE

Washington, Dec. 30 Embarrassed White House officials tonight disclosed tjiat the original copy of the Republican anti-in-flation bill has disappeared mysteriously. President Truman, after castilgating the measure, announced last night he would sign it today. White House Press Secretary Ross told reporters late today the President w r as prepared to sign j the measure today but said the | original copy could not be found. An immediate investigation by the secret service was ordered a 1 substitute copy pi'epared. The substitute was signed during the day by Sen. Vandenberg (R., Mich.), presiding officer of the senate, but House Speaker Martin (R., Mass.), whose signature also is needed, v was at his home in North Attleboro, Mass. The bill was to be flown to him tonight by army courier. Last Seen in Office. Ross told reporters that “God | whiling,' the duplicate bill would ■ l,e returned to Washington tonight and that the President v. : ould sign it “the first thing in the morning.” Ross said the bill was last seen at 5:30 p.m. yesterday when it was on the desk of Presidential •Counsel Clark M. Clifford when Clifford left his office for the night, - . . Hut even if Martin’s signature and the return of the bill to the White House are delayed, the President has until midnight Wednesday to sign the measure. ie constitution gives the Pres-1 ident 10 days, not including Sundays, to sign or veto legislation after it is passed by congress. , . j Loss In Embarrassing. Veteran capital observers could not recall another instance of the White House mislaying a pieu- of legislation. Thousands of 1 ' pass between the capital and c House during a session of congress j without being lost. l I° ss of the anti-inflation nil was particularly embarrassing to ihe White House because of tt® onportance and the fact the tc-ident had criticized it so sevepuy in a statement „ last night. - ther, it is the handiwork of ben - Taf t ( R.. ().), G.O.P. leader A‘‘ "ngress, N candidate for his - Persidential nomination, a ■' one of the President’s bitter- , fc>-t political foes. / .... . "