Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-08-22
TAFT THE FOURTH PRESIDENT
TO VETO A TARIFF MEASURE
Not Since 1869 Had an Executive Used Veto Power to Kill
Revenue Act Passed by Congress- vetoes-Cleve-
land Led All Other Presidents in Exercise Of the Power.
President Tyler Was First to Veto Tariff Bill

the vote was 1876 to 70, with % members
not voting.
President Arthur disapproved a river
and harbor appropriation bill in 1882,
passed at a special session OF congress,
his disapprovsl being based on the
ground that the measure was too much
OF a pork barrel" A congressional
members Of congress evidently needed
that pork" in their campaigns for re-
election. for the measure was immediate
~ passed over Arthur's veto
President Arthur also vetoed the Chi
nese exclusion bill, and an unsuccessful
effort was made to pass II over his dis
approval The necessary two-thirds vote
was mustered in the senate, but in the
house the administration forces were
strong enough to prevent like action and
the bill failed of enactment
CLEVELAND OvERRIDDEN.
The last time that bill was passed in
spite Of the executive disapproval was
during the first session of the 54th con-
gress. The house, which was overwhel-
mingly Republican passed river and
harbor bill which carried large sums for
internal improvements. The senate, while
controlled by the Democrats, passed the
house measure and put 1t up to President
Cleveland who vetoed 1t promptly. It
house over his veto. and as many of the
senate Democrats were not in harmony
with Cleveland. the required two-thirds
vote was secured there, and the bill be-
came law. Since that time no congress
has overridden the action of a president
in disappearing its legislation.
President Roosevelts veto OF the James
River Dam bill attracted much attention.
The river affected is in Missouri. In his
veto Roosevelt said that 1.-THE bill gives
TO the grantee valuable privilege which
by it's very nature is monopolistic and
does not contain conditions essential to
properly protect the public interests"
Roosevelt also vetoed the measure pro-
viding for the taking of the thirteenth
census because It did not contain a pro-
vision extending the civil service re-
quirements to the census bureau en-
ployes Thereupon congress passed an
other bill which received the presidential
o. X.
President Taft has made il clear that
he will not hesitate to exercise the veto
power In the first session of the 61st
congress he not disapprove any con-
gressional acts, but in the second session
he vetoed five measures. Four were bills
of private relief nature, and none was
of especial significance.
A JOINT RESOLUTION.
The fifth was joint resolution provid-
ing for the reinstatement of a number
of West Point cadets who were dis
missed from the military academy for
hazing There was some talk of an at
tempt to pass this resolution over the
presidents veto, as the cadets had many
strong partisans in both branches of
congress. but no such effort was made.
When President Taft made il clear
early in the special session now drawing
to close that he would veto the state
hood bill, unless IL made provision such
that the people of Arizona would have
to eliminate the judicial recall from
their constitution, and that he would also
disapprove any tariff legislation that
might be enacted before the tariff board
has made its report great deal was
heard to the effect that congress would
override the vetoes. Now, however, 1t
appears that the administration has suf-
hcient support in the senate to prevent
any such action.