The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1920-08-20
GOOD FLAYS WILSON
FOR VETOING BUDGET
Unconstitutionality Plea Due
To Failure To Get
Power

Washington, Aug. 14.-Explana-
ton of why President Wilson vetoed
the great fiscal reform put into the
budget bill by the Republican Con-
gress is given by Representative Jas.
w. Good, of Iowa, chairman of the
House Committee on Appropriations,
who originally fathered the meas
ure.
In reply to the Presidents state
ment that the law was unconstitu
tional because it interferred with his
powers of appointment, Good says
that he cannot arrive at any con-
clusion other than the legal advice
he has received as to the constitu-
tional powers of Congress in this res
pect is indeed faulty"
Continuing, Good says:
1.-The Committee on the Budget
went into this matter very carefully,
and in considering the matter there
was never a vote, either on this sub
ject of creating the general account
ing office and providing for the comp
troller general and his assistants or
in the budget itself where there was
any vision of sentiment between the
members of that committee.
"In creating the general account
ing Office and providing for the comp
troller general and the assistant
comptroller general, the committee
was guided by a single thought, and
that was that these two officers should
be placed upon plane somewhat
comparable to the position occupied
by Federal judges. The positions are
semi-judicial, and it was the opinion
of the committee that we should re-
move them as far as possible from
political considerations. 1t was con-
sidered that as to the Presidents
appointment, if it was made polit-
ical office the President would in
all likelihood appoint some one of his
own political faith. If the political
situation should change and a Presi-
dent of some other political faith
should assume the duties of that Of
flee, then that succeeding President
would likewise appoint some one of
his political belief. 1t was the desire
of the committee that the situation
should be avoided is possible.
"A former President, somewhat
miffed because a Comptroller of the
Treasury had ruled against his con-
tention, sent word to the comptroll-
er that if he could not change the
opinion Of the comptroller he could
change the comptroller. It was the
opinion of the committee that, that
condition should not be possible in
the Office that we were creating, an
Office that is to be, as it were, an
arm of Congress, where the official
might be compelled TO say to the
executive officials, This appropria-
lion shall not be expended for any
other purpose than that expressly |
provided for in the appropriation
"The committee brought forth a
in this bin somewha. !
unique, it is true, but a provision /
which the committee believed answers ,
every provision OF the Constitution /
and satisfies the decisions Of the |
courts in the construction Of the Con-
stituton. The provision is this:
The comptroller general and the |
assistant comptroller general shall |
mold office during good behavior, but |
may be removed at any time by con-
current resolution of Congress after
notice and hearing, when, in their
the comptroller general or
assistant comptroller general is in
or inefficient, or has been |
guilty of neglect of duty or malfeas-
lnce in Office, or Of any felony or con-
iuct involving moral turpitude, and |
Tor no other cause, and in no other
manner except by impeachment
Article ii, section 2, of the Con-
stitution, referred to by the Presi- |
lent in his veto message, which is /
descriptive of the powers Of the Pres
dent, specifies; /
And he shall nominate, and by |
md with the advice and consent of |
he Senate, shall appoint ambassa-
Tors, other public ministers and con-
'uls, judges of the Supreme Court,
md all other officers of the United !
States, whose appointments are not
herein otherwise provided for, and !
which shall be established by law"