New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-20
A BILL TO BE VETOED.

Congress- has seldom forced upon
President al alternative at once 20
disfssteful 10 him and SO dlscredltaoIe
IN itself as that which IL presenter
when il passed the Panama Dill anu
sent II 10 him for signature Inc
proceeding was entirely unnecessary
Soon after the opening Of the present
session. eight months ago. the fresi-
denT IN a special message recon-
mended the enactment Of Legislation
FOR me rermanent administration and
control Of the canal. OF which the neeu
vas even then becoming urgent. But
Congress delayed action and persisted
in DELAY in the face Of repeated re-
ouests. When II was evident that
there was not time enough left 10
prepare a comprehensive and salts
factory measure. the President rec
commended that a BIZ be passed deal
ing with the pressing but undlsputed
points. and that action upon the less
urgent but highly controversial mat
1ers should be deferred. This appeal
too. was disregarded. and Congress, IN
the expiring days Of the session, anu
largely under the direction Of the
Presidents fractional enemies, rushed
through this crude and mischievous
measure.
The President was thus confronted
with the alternative Of approving a
bad bill or Of postponing-perhaps In
MISUNDERSTANDING which contained
some good features OF which there was
urgent need. and further delay or
which might prove detrimental 10 i'm
porrant national interests He was re
nortpd vesterday-and his message on
the subject tends 10 support that I'M
ureSSion-to be willing 70 sign the oil
n certain form Of judicial review
should be guaranteed. as the less or
two evils: on the ground that its good
features OUtweighed the bad and that
II would be easier to remedy the III
effects Of the bill itself than 70 repair
the loss and damage which might re-
suit from failure Of al canal legisla-
tion. That view Of the case is not con-
vincinr The better judgment j. thar
the bill should be vetoed and al re-
sponsibility for any undesirable results
Of such action should be placed where
II belongs. squarely and solely upon
the Congress which has so unnecessa-
rilv created this situation.
II veto should result in the post
ropement Of all isthmian legislation
until next session some III effects
would doubtless be felt. We believe,
however. that. on the whole, less injury
vould he done 70 the nations material
interests by such delay than by the
threatened action. and the nation. 5 rep
utation would not be compromised.
Rut all isthmian legislation need not
fan with the vetoing Of this bill. Con-
gress ought 10 be able, and would be If
its members were true 10 their trust 70
nut through within twenty-fOur hours
q satisfactory measure covering all the
points Oh which immediate action is
VI desirable. If it could not or would
not do that il would stand self-cOn-
victed Of either incompetence or malice.
There Is an additional reason for
vetoing the bill The President last
week IN another veto message con-
vincingly protested against the vicious
practice Of sneak legislation or Of
seeking 10 blaclzman the Executive into
approving bad measures by atixing TO
OF mingling with them others which
are cOmmendable and necessary. This
Panama bill presents dagrant ex-
ample Of that vice. The President has
himself pointed out how distinctly and
widely separated are some Of the topics
pertaining 70 the canal. But here is a
hotch-potch Of unrelated matters, some
II them having nothing 70 do with the
.anal or the isthmus. On that ground,
for the sake Of consistency with his
own wise advice and action, as well as
on the grounds Of economic expediency
and Of national honor, we earnestly
counsel. and we believe the majority Of
he American nation desire, the Presi-
dent 20 veto this bill.
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