Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1920-05-20
WILSON EXERCISES
POWER OF VETO
Big Appropriation Bill Returned
With Statement That Legisla-
tive Branch of Govt. Is Inter-
fering With Executive

Washington, May 13-President Wilson
In his opinion the legislative branch of
the government was showing an ncreas-
Ing tendency to interfere unduly with the
exercise of executive functions
Taking as a vehicle for his admonition
a sharply-phrased veto Of the annual leg
islative, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill, the President declared that one
of the riders Of the big supply measure
would muzzle executive officials with
censorship" regulated by the congress
sional Joint committee on printing.
Immediately, the Presidents position
both on the general principle involved and
the specific case cited was challenged ny
republican leaders of the Senate and
House Senator Smoot, republican, Utah.
chairman Of the joint committee declared
in a formal statement that the President
apparently had been deliberately mis-
informed" about the appropriation bill.
and Representative Good, republican,
Iowa, chairman of the House appropria-
lions committee, told the House that
there must be some mistake somewhere
Whether repassage Of the bill unchanged
will be attempted or whether the feature
objected to by the President will be elm
mated had not been decided tonight.
The measure carries sl04 100000 for salaries
and miscellaneous expenses of many gov
eminent departments. and it must be APP
proved in some form by the end of June
or these funds will lapse.
The President also cited several other
measures enacted or proposed in the
present Congress to support his charge
that there had been IAN invasion of the
province of the executive. calculated to
result in unwarranted interference in the
processes of good government" He said
that some of these measures he had per-
mtted to become law as temporary expe-
dents, but that he felt the time had
come to call a halt before destructive"
presidents had been established.
The section of the appropriation bill
| which led to the veto would prohibit the
| printing of mimeographing of any gov
| eminent publication except by authority
of the joint committee. Such a provision,
said the President would give to the
| committee power to determine what In
formation shall be given to the people
of the country by the executive depart
ments."
| Both Senator Smoot and Representative
Good however, asserted that the COM
mittee already had been given control
over government publications by an act
| which the President signed on March /,
1919, and that the purpose Of the present
| provision was to extend that power so
mertorious periodicals could be con-
| tinued.
| There are now 1856 government publ
cations printed without any authority of
law" said Mr.. Good 'They exist only
nv sufferance OF the Joint committee.
The bill which the President approved
in March. 1919, was more sweeping than
| the one now vetoed"
| A row between the joint committee and
Roger w. Babson, formerly connected
with the committee on public informa-
tion. was blamed for the Presidents
action by Senator Smoot. who said in
| his statement that Babson apparently
had made use Of the President or his
advisers In carrying out his threat and
determination to end the censorship
which, without the least foundation, he