The Washington times., 1902-07-03
Custom Governs Pres
ence of President at I
Capitol at Close.
VIEWS OF AN AUTHORITY
Amzi Smith, of Document Room, Says
President Is Without Authority to
Sign Bills After Adjournment-Du-
ties of Committee on Enrolled Bills.

President Roosevelt's presence at the
Capitol Tuesday revived the question
discussed so eagerly at the close Of ev-
cry session of Congress.
What is the power of the President
with regard to signing bills after the
session has adjourned? And is it GUS
tomary for him to move his Office to the
Capitol temporarily at the end OF long
as well as short or final session Of
Congress -
Everybody has different opinion, and
even the oldest Senator and the most
expert parliamentary sharp could not
definitely and positively answer the
question.
Views of an Authority.
Mr.. AMI Smith. the efficient super
intendent of the Senate document room,
however. furnished the desired informa-
tion from the storehouse of his memory
without moments hesitation. He says
that the President of the United States
has no authority to sign any bill after
a session adjourns that has been pre-
sented to him. In other words. a bill
passed and presented to him for sigma
ture Tuesday could not be signed yes
terday. but one passed Tuesday, If with
held. could be presented to him. and
signed at any time while the next ses-
sion of the present Congress is in ses-
sion.
The Presidents power of executing a
pocket veto is confined to measures that
he holds without action for ten days
during a session of Congress- That is,
If a bill had been passed ten days ago
and presented to him for signature, he
must have signed it not later than Tues-
day or it would not have become law.
Act Null and Void.
President Abraham Lincoln signed a
bill March y. 1863. known as the cap
tured and abandoned property act."
which had been passed by the session
which expired on the 4th of March Of
that year. The Judiciary Committee
subsequently declared the act to be null
and void because it had not been signed
by the President on the 4th of March
or prior to that date, and the law was
re-enacted.
All Presidents of the United States
have been in the habit of going to the
Capitol and occupying the Presidents
room during The closing hours of the
short or final session of Congress, be-
cause at that time bills are rushed
through in such hot haste up to the
very hour Of Y o'clock noon that thera
would be no time to send them to the
White House for signature.
Grover Cleveland's Attitude.
Grover Cleveland. however. laid down
the law that Congress must come to him.
and cnly once did he condescend TO ia
cilitate the proceedings of Congress by
at the Capitol TO sign bills.
Very few Presidents prior to McKinley's
time went to the Capitol at the close Of
long sessions, and he only once or twice.
President Roosevelt ilad such good
time Tuesday that he will probably
maintain the custom and pass it down
to his successors. Many q bill that
might fail to become law will be saved
il the future Presidents follow the pre-
cedent set by Mr.. Roosevelt, because it
is 4 fact that sessions of Congresses
have expired while the Committee on
Enrolled Bills were on their way to the
White House for the Presidential sigma
ture.
1t is singular fact that there is moth
ing in the Constitution, the law. or the
rules of Congress requiring the Commit
tee on Enrolled Bills to observe any
stated degree OF haste in taking bills
10 the President. 1t is their duty to
have them signed, but they can be as
deliberate as they please about doing
his. and thus have 1t in their power to
iefeat any measure passed in the clos
ng hours of a session by merely daily
ng on the way from the Capitol to the
Presidents ONCE.