The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1921-07-20

priation item in a supply bill but also to
disapprove legislative riders" without
destroying the remainder Of the meas
ure
The amendment is now pending in the
Judiciary Committee, having been re-
ferred to that body following its intro
duction by Senator Kenyon. The draft
legisla live experts. who have carefully
reviewed precedents in order to insure
soundness in phraseology.
While the Constitution can be amend
ed only by vote of two-thirds of Con-
gress and ratification by three-fourths
OF the State Legislatures, Senator Ken
yon Is convinced, he told THE NEW
YORK HERALD to-day, that public opin-
ion, once 1t understands clearly the i'm
portance of the change and the benefits
that will result from 1t in putting a
check on wasteful items In appropriation
bills. will lie strong enough to bring
adoption.
Il have not the slightest doubt that
this Government would now be better
off financially by hundreds of millions
of dollars" said Senator Kenyon, "if
this power had been conferred upon our
Chief Executives during the period Of
our expansion and the consequent in
crease in the cost of government. In
fact, 1t seems to me that It should have
been part of our Constitution orig
inally.
Certainly 1t ought to be added to our
Constitution row. at time when the
Government. the nation and, in fact, the
whole world Is struggling under the tre-
mendous handicap of a large public
debt. financial and Industrial depression
and an unprecedented need for economy
President 'ter President. before and
since the civil war. has recognized the
desirabflity Of such a power and has
suggested that II he accorded. But for
some reason which do not clearly
understand this never has been done"
Tyler Saw Need of Change.
Senator Kenyon has found in his
study Of the question that as long ago
as 1914 the desirability of such an
amendment to the Constitution was
recognized, President Tyler having
called attention to 1t in a message Veto
ing a river and harbor bill.
No less :nan eight Presidents. II Is
said, at various times during the last
three-quarters of century have made
the same point IN messages to Congress.
almost always in connection with a mes
sage vetoing some bill which had many
good features. but which on the whole
was consid a-ed ur desirable. The Chief
Executive N each instance found him
self without the power to discriminate
between the good and the bad features.
The Administration plans to effect
large economies by reducing personnel
in Government departments In Washing
ton neared realization when officials an
nounced that reductions would bring
the Government personnel In Washing
ton down 20 $4,000 by the end of July
This will have cut the personnel more
than one-half the war strength. There
was a net reduction last month of about
1900 In the Government payroll here.
On June 80 there remained s2.051 names
on the lists If employees as contrasted
with s3.5SS on May 80.
Under the prog ramme of Director
Dawes the reductions probably would
continue as heavy rate as bureau
chiefs go ahead to coordinate various
bureaus and other administrative agen-
cies for the purpose of checking expen-
ditures and improving efficiency.