The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-04-10
Heated Discussions Over the Veto
PrerogatiSs Enjoyed by the
President
bis VIII Is Much Stronger Than
That OF the English
Queen.
AID Yet This Power Must he Lodged
Somewhere In An FERNS Of Gov
srnment.
SPECIAL Correspondenee.l

veto is under very heated discussion just
now In this city, and we hesr the same old
arguments, the same old denunciations re
peated In the same old way aud the usual
frantic protests against the one man pow
err II does seem absurd at first view that a
nation Of nearly 10000 900 of people and a
majority Of both houSss Of congress should
hang almost breathless for week OF so on
the will Of one man, but all these things
were very carefully considered when the
constitution was formed, and every time
the matter has been reargued the final
Judgment Of statesmen has been that the
veto is good thing.
Furthermore it would take an uncom-
monty s1nart man to prove that any one of
the vetoes, from Wsshington's flrst-but
will not come down later than 1880, lest
run il into politicians really done any
permanent harm. The arguments are ex-
sctly the same a. were employed when the
English convention OF 1889 was debating
whether William III should have the veto,
and II is worth noting that the defenders Of
the power have always urged that Il would
be used moderately.
Relation oRahe Veto 20 Popularity.
Now, the amusing feature Of the power
IN this country is that IL has been used
most unsparingly by men who achieved
their political success by protesting the
most radical democracy, and that the num-
Der Of vetoes issued by any president bears
no sort Of relation 20 the amount of abuse
be has received therefor Very few people
remember even now that Grant issued ~
vetoes, Just twice as many rs did Andrew
johnson, although johnson was abused
about ~ times As much for his vetoes as
was Grant. The one stupendous fact is that
Grover Cleveland has issued more vetoes
than all the presidents before him and all
the kings Of England since parliaments were
first established there.
Another very curious fact is that the We
toee of the early presidents were extremely
mild in character and bear throughout an
apologize tone, and that the congresses TO
which they were addressed accepted them
so completely as TO almost entirely reverse
their votes, while as the number Of vetoes
increased their aggressive-nay, almost de-
haut-tone increased likewise, and finally
congress ceased 20 be influenced thereby,
and in the subsequent voting il was very
seldom that any member changed his posi-
zion. In his eight years George Washing
ington sent in but two vetoes, both on
measures Of no special Importance.
son vetoed any act but James Madison
made mp for IL boy sending in six vetoes.
James Monroe sent but one. John Quincy
Adams none, and then came the boss veto
1T of the lot, the man who was supposed
at the time 10 have outdone all who were
ever to come after Linn and who was so saw
ag-iy denounced therel0r-namely, Andrew
jackson, whose vet0es numbered l3.
The First Veto Overruled by Congress.
With him personal government ended in
the United States as il did with George III
in England. though / would by no means
iusnuate any similarity between the per-
sons. Martin Van Buren, signed every act
Of congress without protest or veto. vii
liam Henry Harrison did not live long
enough 10 developa personal policy Then
came John Tyler with 10 vetoes and James
X Polk with three, but the two Wing pres
ideuts which followed cOutented themselves
with mild protests Franklin Pierce, per
soually one of the most genial men who
ever held high Office in this country. sent in
10 vetoe-. and be- WAS the first president TO
haveu veto ovcrruled by congress.
u J. almost forgotten now, but the 18th
of May. 1851. WAS counted "a memorable day
AT the time. because on that day AN act
to remove distractions to navigation in the
mouth Of the Miss .,sinpi river 40 the South
west pass aud Pass "a NOutre." which had
been vetoed by President Pierce. was pass
cd over the veto by very large majorities in
both houses. buchanan issued 5 vctOes;
Lincoln !, johnson, 81; Grant, A.: Hayes,
II. aud Arthur {, and, as 10 Grover Cleve-
land, 30 doth not yet appear whether he in
tend, 20 stop 40 800 and something or go
right along for tie rest of dis term and
3 f.... Il q.