Evening star., 1928-06-18

.losIy dinering opinions on the SUBJ
lect have been aired in the press since
II became apparent that President
Coolidge would not sign the bin passed
oy Congress for operation and develop
ment OF the great Government owned
power project at Muscle Shoals.
Replying to an attack on the Presi-
dent by Senator Norris, author of the
Dill, who criticized the Executive for
rot sending veto message in which
II would have been necessary to state
the reasons therefor" the New York
sun independently argues: The Presi-
cent mas given his reasons He has
gwen them in messages TO Congress.
In all the long debate on Muscle
Shoals In the recent session of Com
greSs there was not one DEVELOPMENT
wnich indicated that the President had
changed his mind: not one which could
convince dispassionate judgment that
ne ought to change his mind. The re-
SUIT proves he did not change his mind
and that Is all there is to it."
The idea that lit is hard To exulain
ms action on grounds of political ex-
peoiency" Is advanced by the Chatta.
nooga News independent Democraticl
Wnicn makes the further statement:
he alienates the friends of the meas
ure Just as much by his silent veto as
ne would by the most severe attack on
lne Dill. Yet he does not particularly
gain the support of opponents of the
act. They would expect some indorSe-
ment OF their stand. some support for
the vigorous fight they have made.
Iney want his moral backing. And ne
says nothing at all"
The contention OF Senator Norris
that Congress has not adjourned. but
tnat II really is Hr.y in recess and
that therefor - ~ las become law,
is widely diSCiIss~si N, Philadelphia
Evening Bullet's Independent Demo-
cratic) express. Tie opinion: The
constitutional warrant for the Norris
contention seems sbSurdly little. The
Constitution required Congress to as
Semole at least once year, on the FIRST
MONDAY In December, Several laws
nave been passed providing for sessions
10 begin on other dates. Neither house
can adjourn for more than three DAYS
except by consent at the other. But
the President can call Congress into
special session. and he also possesses
authority to declare 1t adjourned should
the houses disagree. There does not
seem any valid justification for con-
sidering that III any interval between
TWO sessions Congress Is in recess, un-
less it specifically so declares"
Ihe only way to prove the conten-
tion." says the Charleston Evening
Post independent Democraticl, would
De by taking the question to the SUI
preme Court and by the time an opin-
ION was obtained, the Seventieth Con-
gresS and MIR. Coolidge as we'll, In all
PROBABILITY, Will b. gone and nearly
forgotten. The fight over Muscle
Shoals development and utilization will
have to be started all over again,
The Manchester Union (.ndependent
Republican,. accepting the view that
the disposition TO be made OF the plant
remains q national problem" also con-
cIudes that the ditsicult situation will
have TO be tackled again."
&&&
We feel confdens that the Supreme
Court viii be called upon To decide
when and under what circumstances a
pocket veto Is q pocket Veto" says the
Great Falls Tribune tDemocraticl. and
the Dayton Daily News independent
esting lawsuit. with the chances, We
should guess, rather strongly against
the Norris Interpretation. The Lin.
coin State Journal independent RE-
puhlicanl comments: "One OF the
principal interpreters OF the ConStitu-
ton, Judge Cooley makes no Ciistinc-
ton between adjournment and the re-
cess between sessions, He believes that
this provision was made to relieve the
President from the last-mlnute crush
OF bills. many of which he might not
be able TO consider SutieicntN In 10
days to decide whether TO sign or veto
them"
The Norris hill," says the Roanoke
World News. tindependent nemoeraticl
discussing the merits OF the measure
would have committed the Govern.
ment To the building Of further dams
and power houses, IN the operation Of |
the nitrate plant, whether profitable or |
not, and Ia the sale OF the product Al |