The Washington herald., 1912-06-18
PRESIDENTS VETO
A WOOD VICTORY
Return of the Army Appropriation
Bill to Congress May
Save Him.
TAFT TAKES A FIRM STAND

President Taft took a determined stand
yesterday against special or inserted leg
islation which may be found 70 be uncon-
stitutionsI as included in the army ap-
| preparation bill that passed both the
House and Senate. He rejected the meas
ure and returned II with his veto for re-
passage in regular form. By this action
the President upholds the stand of his
| military adyisers-Secretary of War
| Stimson and Gen. Wood, Chief Of STAFF
for an efficient and economic military es-
tablishment on a modern and progress
stve basis. The action Is a decided vic
tory for Gen. Wood. and for military sf-
ficiency Of officers regardless Of age or
previous rank in the service.
The President. by his veto, prevents
the disqualification for the office Of chief
Of STAN OF number Of generally recog-
nized most efficient officers in the army
Generals Wood, Funston, Goethals, Cro-
zier, and in fact, all stan officers. While
II is not the policy Of the army TO ad-
vance a stan oficer without direct mill
tary experience to be chief Of staff the
President does not propose for Congress-
by its unprecedented interference, 10 so
tie his hands as TO prevent the possibil-
ity Of his selecting the most efficient ON
Ger for that post. With such legislation
once on record II would pave the way
for legislation eliminating certain officers
from field command, the selection for
which the Constitution places entirely
in the hands Of the President as COM
mander-in-chief of the army and navy.
Army Is Vital.
The army of the United States is f1r
too vital an institution TO the PEOPLE !
Of this country, to be made the victim |
Of hasty or imperfect theories OF ICgis- |
lation," says the President, in his Epe- |
cial message vetoing the measure AS |
was pointed out by the chairman Of the /
Senate military committee, # s we'll |
known that the War College and the Gen
eral Stan have been for many mon:as
engaged upon a comprehensive Plan Of
army reorganization. At the present time,
therefore, il is especially inappropriate
in my opinion to force upon the statute
books legislation enacted without the
usual deliberation and care. I cannot
surrender the responsible
ity in shaping such laws which am
vested under the Constitution. there
fore return to your honorable body with
out my approval the said bill"
The measure was returned to the
House, in which body IL ORIGINATED The
Presidents action brings TO a crisis the
most bitter fight in the history OF the
nation between Congress and the Presi-
VI
The fight began when, before the open
ing OF the present session, the General
Stan was directed to draw mp recon-
for certain legislation look
ing to a reorganization Of the army to
put II on a more efficient and economic
basis.
Hay Had Ideas.
The economic idea was supposed TO be :
in harmony with the House, but It de-
veloped that Representative Hay, chair
man Of the Military Affairs Committee,
had ideas Of his own. Nearly all OF
hem were directly opposite TO the mill ]
.ary view, and were found to be strange :
y similar to those OF Mai Gen. Fred c. {
Ainsworth, retired. who was deposed as /
Adjutant General as a result Of his con- T
iuct in the feud. The Hay bill passed
he House with various amendments,
iome Of which were satisfactory to the c
but, through the influ- C
nee Of Senator Warren, still others, o
qually as Objectionable II not more so, e
we're added in the Senate. Still others a
we're included by the conferees.
II the measure is not passed in satis-
actory form before July, II will leave the
rmy without any appropriations for the d
ext fiscal year. 1t would then be neces-
airy for Congress to continue tempo II
arily the existing appropriations or else n
o make the bill retroactive when it is
nally passed. K
Following receipt Of the Presidents mes 4
age Representative Hay was quick to q
AXE action in continuance Of his fight by I
suing a statement in which he declared =
he President had made several misstate- G.
tents. The message Of the President We o
oing the army appropriation bill is full n
{ inaccurate statements and disingenu- q
US argument" Representative Hays
.atement read