Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-19
PRESIDENT GETS
SALARY RESOLUTION
Question of Signing Bill
Raises Interesting Con-
stitutionaI Point.
VARIOUS OPINIONS HERE

The joint congressional resolution
authorizing advance payment of De-
cember salaries to employees of the
Capitol has reached President Will
son in Paris, and the Presidents sig
nature probably already has been at
tached.
This measure, and the one author
izing the construction of a bridge in
Arkansas, were the first enactments
of Congress requiring the Presidents
signature to reach him since he sailed
to attend the peace conference. They
were sent from the White House one
have been signed is expected momen-
tarily.
The Capitol employees bill raised
another interesting point in connec-
tion with the procedure, without
precedent, of a President transacting
government business 1900 miles from
Washington.
Fine Points Discussed.
Already the point of what consti-
tutes presentation of a bill to the
President, under the meaning of the
Constitution, has been much dis
cussed. Some held that delivery to
the White House, because of long
standing custom, is adequate. and
other officials believe that the ten
day limit which the Constitution al
lows for veto now dates from the
time the bill is received by the Presi-
dent in Paris.
But in addition, in the case Of the
Capitol employees bill, there is the
question of whether the Treasury is
authorized to pay out money on the
cabled announcement that the Presi-
dent has signed the bill. Ordinarily
this point would make little difference.
But the purpose of the congressional
ment of Capitol employees salaries by
December 21, the Saturday before
Christmas.
Ruling May Cause Delay.
Should the controller of the Treas
ury hold that he must have a signed
copy of the bill in hand before au-
thorizing the payments of the salaries
which also are appropriated in the
bill, then the disbursement could not
be made within a week, which would
be on December 26, the day after
Christmas.
Controller Warwick is ill at his home
here, and other officials in his office
declined to express an opinion on this
point But it was stated that the pay
ment of money appropriated by Con-
greSS from the United States Treasury
is dependent upon certification by the
State Department that appropriation
bills have become laws, and therefore
the decision in this case may rest with
the State Department, unless the
Treasury is inclined to question the
State Department certification.
Shows How President Acts.
Secretary Tumulty was notified by
cable today of the arrival of a State
Department courier who had in his
pocket the two measures sent a week
ago today. This announcement dis
closed for the first time the exact
manner in which the President will
perform his duties while abroad so far
as signing or vetoing bills is con-
cerned.
Most officials consider that without
the Presidents signature the Capitol
employees pay resolution would have be-
come law anyway on Saturday. ten
days after its passage. But there 10
a difference Of opinion on this point
for the Constitution, III outlining the
signatory and veto powAs Of the i'resi-
dent states:
IF any bill shall not be returned
days eXcepled) after II shall have been
presented to him, the satra shall be "A
law in like manner as If he had sign
ed it, unless the Congress by their
adjournment prevent its return. In
which case it shall not be a law
No Ruling on Point Yet.
What constitutes presentation" to
the President III view of his absence
| from the United States is "A point on
| which there has been no ruling. Some
officials hold that the ten-day limit
| begins when the bills reach the Pres
| ident in Paris; and others contend
| that by force of custom the trn-day
| period dates from the time the bill
is signed for by IA clerk when dellv-
| cred at the White House.
| In most cases this distinction makes
| little practical difference. but should
| the President desire to veto "A measure
and be delayed in doing SO until after
| ten days from its passage had elapsed
| the question might become pertinent.
Under the present procedure this IL
not likely to happen. State Depart
/ ment messengers travel to and from
| Europe at frequent intervals. and
while the President is away they
are conveying to him all measure
that need his signature. The trip ~
made in about week But when
| they start the President is given
| comprehensive outline by cable or
wireless of the bills, so that he may
act Immediately upon their arrival
Veto Might Be Wired.
Even should they be delayed the
President might be apprised of the
contents of any measure which he
questioned and might dispatch his
| veto message back to Congress within
a day after a bill is enacted. 1t Is
| held in this connection that the Presi-
dent does not have to be in possession
of the official copy of a bill to veto il.
The President, holding that he has
surrendered none of his functions by
being abroad, is said to have no
doubts about the legality OF the
course he is following. All engrossed
| copies of bills and resolutions are
forwarded to him as they reach the
White House from the Capitol