The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-12-12
PORK BARREL VETO
GIVEN REFERENDUM
Proposition Allows President to
Veto of Separate Items
NATIONAL CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE REFERS TO CLUBS.
Claims Advanced That Omnibus APP
preparation Bills Contain JOkers-
Negative Arguments Given.

WASHINGTON-Lack of power of
the chief executive to veto so-called |
pork barrel" items in appropriation
legislation is dealt with in a referen-
dunn soon to be voted upon by the
members of the Chamber of Com
merce of the United States. CONNER
cial organizations, both local and ma
tional to the number of some 500, will
be asked to express themselves as to
whether the United States constitu-
ton should be so amended as to per-
NIT the president to approve or dis
approve any separate items or pro-
visions contained in any appropria-
tion bill
1t is said, as things stand now, the
president is practically powerless to
prevent the abuses which lie at the
root of certain governmental extrava-
gances by reason of the fact that he
can exercise no discretion as to in
dividual items.
Such Independent judgment cannot
now in all cases be exercised by the
President, the Merchants association
argument goes on. The bills present
ed for his action sometimes comprise
two or more unrelated subjects
One of these may commend itself
to him; as to the other his judgment
may be adverse, but he cannot deal
with the two subjects separately up
A.. l,
it applies to and affects both subjects
alike. The enactment of the provis-
ions relating to one of the subjects
may be highly desirable for the public
welfare; but it is argued, those relat-
ing to the other may be equally un-
desirable. If the provisions were pre-
sented separately, the president would
approve one and could veto the other.
Being presented conformity, the presi-
dent is compelled either to approve
both or to veto both. In the former
case, the undesirable and possibly
harmful measure becomes law; in the
latter, the desirable or even pressing
ly necessary measure fails to become
lay.
General appropriation bills are
commonly delayed until near the clos
ing hours of congress" the Merchants
association argument declares, "and
effective scrutiny and revision of them
by either house is extremely difficult
and practically impossible. They are
the channels through which all sorts
of Jobs and questionable appropria-
tions find their easy course. Innum-
cradle items which if embodied in
separate bills, would have no chance
of passage are included in the general
appropriation bills as the result of the
log rolling process, whereby the
members of congress extend friendly
consideration to each others wastefu
or extravagent measures whose pas
sage is sought not on public grounds
but solely to promote the interests O.
individual congressman with theii
constituents Every large general ap
preparation bill is loaded up with it
ems Of this class as a result of tn
system. The appropriation bills TO
rivers and harbors, for public build
ings. and other similar purposes, ar
swelled enormously and for unjusti
fable purposes.
AS indivative of the extent to whic
{ the public sentiment Of the countr
3 has progressed in the matter, tn
Merchants association declares tina
p the constitutions of no less than thiI
ty-nine Of the states have been S
amended as to require, in effect, tina
each bill shall contain but one sui
= ject, to be clearly expressed in it
title, with exceptions as to appropria
$ tion bills in twelve of such states
$ while in thirty-five states the const
= tuition permits the governor to disar
e prove specific items of appropria
= ton bills, which items become vol
unless repassed by the legislature
1t is the common practice of til
National chamber in submitting a re-
erendum to give an abstract of tn
arguments against the question to b
} voted upon. The main heads pertain
ing to the veto of riders are:
(a) The proposed amendmer
, would lessen the responsibility {
!, congress; (b) the powers of the pres
u dent have already been over-expanC
ed; (c) the rules of the houses
congress can make provision to avoi
a rider legislation; (d) authority to vet
e items and provisions in appropris
a ton bills will not include power I
= reinstate omitted items; and (e) til
e action of different states contains 4
I argument for amendment OF the col
stitution.