Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-03-28
A VETO THE TEXT
Private Pension Bill Day in
the House.
THE PRESIDENTS VIEW
MR. TALBERT EXPRESSES
HEARTY AGREEMENT.
HEARTY AGREEMENT.
Correcting Military Record-Animat-
ed Discussion Regarding the OBJ
legation of Congress.

The House of Representatives devoted
the day TO the consideration of private
pension bills. Some routine business pre-
coded the regular order.
\ resolution was adopted which called
upon the Secretary of, War for certain in
formation relative to the condition of the
Missouri river Improvement below st. Jo-
seph. Mo.
Mr. LittlefeId CMe) asked unanimous
consent for the consideration of a bill to
confer jurisdiction upon the Court of
Claims to adjudicate the claims for duties
collected on goods going into the Island of
Porto Rico between April IL, 1899, to May
1. 1900. The bill provided that the claims
found due should bear interest at per
cent.
Mr.. Payne On. " explained that the re-
fund Of these duties was made necessary
by the decision of the Supreme Court The
claims for interest. he thought, were just,
because Gen. Davis, the military governor
of Porto Rico, subsequently went to the
Philippines. and service could not be OBJ
tanned upon him. The bill was passed.
Bills also were passed to transfer the
title to the military reservation at Baton
Rouge La. to the Louisiana State Agri-
cultural College; to allow the Communication
of homestead entries in certain cases upon
the coded portion of the Sioux Indian res
ervation in South Dakota; to grant right
of way through the San Francisco noun
tain reserve to the Central railroad of Ari-
IONA and to authorize the loan of revolu-
tionary trophies to the Morgan Memorial
Association at Winchester, Va.
Presidential Veto Received.
The Presidents veto of the bill to re-
move the charge Of desertion against
Emanuel Klauser was laid before the
House and referred to the committee on
military affairs.
The President in his veto, says this bill.
like the Senate bill in the case of James w.
Howell. not only authorizes the President
to act. but also orders the Secretary OF
War 10 revoke and set aside the order ap-
proving the proceeding. findings and SEN
tence of general court-martial, and 10
grant an honorable discharge.
1T appears to Imply, says the President
The possession by Congress OF the power
to override and reverse by statute valiC
Judgment If it did not do that 1t was
simply an exercise of the pardoning power
i. Is questionable whether Congress pos
sesses either of these powers, and when the
bill directed the Secretary of War to re-
woke an order, Congress. in fact, did tho
thing which 1t ordered him to do
The House then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton of private pension bills
Commends the President.
The first bill on the calendar was to cor
rect the military record of Calvin A. Rice
anG Mr.. Talbert IS. c. made it the text
o. a speech against this class of bills. He
referred to the veto of the President just
read and his other vetoes of like bills. 81
en-, glad" said ne, Ito see that the CHIEF
executive has come to my assistance t.
keep the roll of honor from being be
sn.irched by deserters. While / disagret
with the President in almost everything
else. l heartily indorse his position in thi:
matter. | have protested against the pas
=; So,
He moved to lay aside the bill with an I'M
favorable report.
Mr. MondeN CWvo) declared that the bill
did not seek To remove the charge of deser
ten. Rice. ne said. was an officer who hat
beer uniustly dismissed for being abSen
without leave.
Mr. Mann OllD declared that Congress
should consider the attitude of the Presiden
toward a certain class of bills. He denfeI
that the President had declared that h.
would sign no bills correcting the militar!
records of soldiers. The President, he said
hai objected to the form of some of thes
his. which. instead Of permitting the Sec
rotary OF War to change the military rec
old required him to make the change.
Duty Of Congress.
Mr. Robinson Qnd) interrupted to sa,
that Congress should act as an independ
ent branch Of the government. 1t SHOULD
not abdicate its powers. If the Presiden
did not approve an act of Congress the r.
sponsibility would not rest with him.
Mr.. Mann thought 1t a waste of time 70
Congress to pass bills knowing they woul'
not be signed. He thought the bills shoult
be placed in such form that they woult
command the Presidents approval. H
did not know what the President woul,
do. he said, but If he was consistent h
would veto every bill which was director,
In form.
Mr.. Hay (Va-) commended that II specia
bills were only to be permissive. not di
rectOry. then Congress had as we'll pass F.;
general law giving the Secretary of Wa
permission 10 change military records O
any soldier.
The bill was laid aside with a favorab
rccOmmendation-G4t to 9