The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-05-14
PRESIDENT REbUFFS
BILL; SAYS CONGRESS
WOULD USURP POWER

WASHINGTON, May 14.-President
Wilson Thursday vetoed the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial bill. The
president said he returned the bill be-
cause OF the section putting under con-
gressional control all government pub
LEGATIONS. This section, the president
said, would give congress censor
ship" encroaching on executive func-
tions.
AS soon as the veto message was
received at the capitol, and before it
was presented to the house. Chairman
Good of the appropriations committee,
conferred with other Republican lead
ers and it was decided to refer the bill
and veto message to the approprla-
tiOns committee.
Printing Control Sought.
The section of the bill at which the
veto was aimed provides that NO
journal, magazine, periodical or other
similar government publication shall
be issued except under regulations
prescribed by the congressional joint
committee on printing and proviso
is added including in the category
mimeOgraphing, multigraphing and
other processes used for the dupica-
ton of typewriter and printed mat
ter, other than official correspondence
and office records"
The obvious effect of this provi-
G3on," said the president, would tie
10 give to that committee power to
prevent executive departments from
mimeographing, multigraphing or 9th
erwise duplicating any material which
they desire. and in that way would
determine what information shall be
given to the people of the country by
the executive departments. Without
raising any constitutional question,
think that this section which would
give the congressional joint committee
on printing power to exercise censor
ship over the executive departments
is an encroachment on the functions
of the executive and incompatible with
good government"
Il am in entire sympathy with the
efforts of congress and the depart
ments to effect economies in printing
and in the use of paper and supplies,
but I do not believe that such pro-
Vision as this should become law"
Suggests Attention to Budget.
'If we are to have efficient and eco.
nOmic business administration of gov
eminent affairs, the congress, | be
lieve, should direct its efforts to the
control of public moneys along broad
or lines. This can be accom-
plished by the enactment of legislation
establishing an effective budget sys
tenn which I have heretofore urged"
The congress and the executive
should function within their respeC
tive spheres. The congress has the
power and the right to grant or deny
an appropriation, or to enact or to re
fuse to enact law; but once an ap
preparation is made or a law is passed
the appropriation should be admins
tered or the law executed by the exec
utive branch of the government"
II regard the provision in question
as an invasion of the province of the
executive and calculated to result in
unwarranted interference in the pro
cesses of good government, producing
confusion, irritation and distrust. The
proposal assumes significance as an
outstanding illustration of a growing
tendency which | am sure is not fully
realized by the congress itself and GER
tainly not by the people of the
country"
The total United States sweet pota
20 acreage the last three years has
,anged from 744 900 to 922 600