The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-12-27
TRADE BOARD.
ASKED TO VOTE
ON A QUESTION
Which Has to Do with the Veto
Power of United States
President.

. / " r Is &
Because the president must ap-
prove q bill as a whole or the entire
appropriation fails, and because APP
preparation bills are frequently pre-
sented for action by the president
which contain as riders provisions of
law which have nothing to do with
the appropriation, the Clarksburg
Board Of Trade has been asked to
go on record for or against sug-
geSted amendment to the Constitu-
ton which would permit the presL-
dent to approve or disRpprove any
separate items or provisions in any
appropriation bill
Tho question is presented to the
| Clarksburg Board OF Trade through
a referendum submitted by the Cham
Der Of Comemrce OF the United
States to the principal organizations
of the country
Elliott II. Goodwin, secretary OF the
United States Chamber of Commerce
said IN discussing the referendum
the appropriation provisions OF a bill
may be entirely in the public interest
but those relating to the rider direct
~ against the public interest. II the
president had power to veto items
and provisions in such bills. he could
approve one and veto the other; but
being presented cojolntly the presi-
dent is now compelled to approve
both or veto both. The president il
thus deprived of the power of using
his own discretion and coerced into
either accepting that which his judg-
ment disapproves, or defeating that
which he believes wise and necessary.
This lack OF power Of the chief ex-
ecutive was declared to be one or
the reasons for the existence OF what.
is now known as the pork barrel
Power to veto separate items. it
is explained. is a pure economy mat
ter. Without it Congress can put
through pork barrel item OF APP
preparation or series OF such items.
which the president cannot veto with
out at the same time vetofng the sup
ply bill for running the government
This power to veto separate items
of an appropriation is given to many
governors, separate and distinct en-
tirely from questions of riders.
The national chamber referendum.
raises the question % giving the
president also the power OF vetoing
riders which is not an economy pow
er, but power to prevent Congress
from forcing him to approve Iegisla-
ton by lacking it on to an appro-
priation bill which he cannot AFFORD
to veto as a whole. Where rider leg
islation is prevented by state consti-
tutions, it is not through power to-
veto, but through a restriction on the
legislation by provision that a bill
must deal with one subject of Iegis-
lation which must be adequately set
forth in the title of the bill.
1t was at the request of the Mer-s
chants Association OF New York that
that national chamber took up the
veto question. With the referendum
are Affirmative arguments advanced
by the merchants association and its
representative, William c.. Breed, Of
New York. On the other hand as
is invariably the case when the ma
tional chamber asks its members to3
pass judgment upon a question, tho
carries an abstract of the
arguments against the proposal to be-
voted upon.
The appropriation bills for the
three session of the Sixty-second Con-
gress covered an expenditure of ST.
and represented up-l
wards Of fifteen different appropria-
ton measures in each session. many
of which came to the president at the
conclusion of the session when there
was a great press OF leglslauon ana
little time in which to consider it.
out. would have meant a serious clog
gtng OF the business Of national gov
eminent
The president is practically pow
erless to prevent these abuses" the
argument goes on. which lie at the
root of governmental extravaganza
by reason OF the fact that he can eS-
.ercise no discretion as to Individual
items, but must accept measures as a
whole or reject them as a whole
Forty-flYe days are allowed for the
tballoting which will close January %.
The referendum will be submitted
to the directors OF the local board for
their vote early in January.