The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-11-16
NO EXCUSE FOR DELAY.


Members of the present congress
have been asked in letter from the
Institute for Public Service, signed by
julius H. Barnes, chairman, to save,
one, perhaps two or even three years
for the national budget reform which
both parties have pledged, by passing
q budget bill in December instead of
waiting for the new congress to con-
vene. The facts about the presidents
veto of the budget bill passed last
spring, its repassage in CORRECTED form
by the house and the filibusters which
prevented repassage in the senate were
summarized as follows:
Both houses of the present congress.
without party division, have already
passed a budget bill, the house in Oc-
tober, 1919, and the senate in April.
1920. The president has at different
times urged a budget bill. There Is
therefore no difference of opinion as
to the need for immediate action.
President Wilson vetoed the bulge:
bill June last, be said regretfuIlN
because it violated Article 2, Section 2
VI Tie 1cQSIdl COltotAtQlAOAiy " AA1CAA says
that the president shall have power
with the advice and consent of the
senate ito appoint all other officers
Of the United States whose appoint
ments are not herewith otherwise pro-
vided for and which shaft be. consti-
tuted by law" There was no objection
to the way in which this officer, who
lie e., no ko o,,fs;da fn6arsapdanf fipa
ciaI~and operative audits of govern
ment transactions was to be appointed.
namely, by the president with the adj
vice and consent of the senate. The
presidents objection was that the bill
prevented the removal of the officer
by the president at will which goes
with the power to appoint. AS the
mova1 Except either by impeachment
or concurrent resolution of congress"
Congress yielded to the presidents
contention because it was anxious to
get budget bill passed last spring.
Attempt to pass the bill over the pres
ident's veto failed in the house. Some
members insisted that the vetoed bill
was not unconstitutional. Others in
sisted that it was unconstitutional
They stopped debating it because they
wanted immediate action and be-
lieved that necessary changes can cas-
lily be made as the plan is tried. The
house passed the corrected bill the
very next day after it was returned,
June 5. The senate majority wanted
tn mass IL as corrected bt1t three sena-
tors filibustered or, talked it out of its
chance. The public was SO engrossed
In convention talk that these budget
outcomes escaped general attention.
The correction made to meet the
presidents objection leaves the ap-
pointment of the comptroller-generaI
with the president upon the advice and
consent of the senate. The term, in
stead of being five years, is during
good behavior" Removal is left with
the president by cutting out the orig
inal requirement that the comptroller
might be removed by congress If 'fn-
efficient, guilty of neglect of duty.
malfeasance in office or involving
moral interpretive and in no other way
except by impeachment" Thus, a
budget bill agreeable to both houses
of congress and the president is ready
for immediate passage by the recon-
vening of congress next month. VIII
congress pass it? If not, why not?