Evening star., 1928-06-08
Norris Says Action May Drive
Away Votes of Pro-
gressive Citizens.
INSINUATES POWER
TRUST WILL AID G. 0. p.
Declares President Did Right in
Taking Means Which Required
No Statement.

Senator Norris, Republican, Nebras-
ka, sponsor of the Muscle Shoals bill,
which died last night through pocket
veto, in a statement criticizing Presi-
dent Coolidge's action predicted today
that the failure of the bill may be the
last straw that will bring third party
into the field"
1.-The failure of this bill may disap-
point the American farmers interested
in fertilizer" said the statement. "It
may drive away from the administra-
ton candidate large number Of pro-
gressive, thinking citizens, but it will
give us money in unlimited profusion
and enable us to win the election by
controlling the political machine and
sources of publicity"
Form Of Veto Challenged.
Although the White House and Justice
Department officials have contended
that failure of the President to act on
the bill automatically killed it, Senator
Norris challenged this form Of veto, he
insisted that Congress was not ad-
journed but only in recess.
Senator Norris does not intend to
take any action to test the validity of
the pocket veto but will await the
decision of the Supreme Court in a
similar case now pending. However,
he let 1t be known that he would re-
introduce the bill when Congress recon-
veneS next December.
AT first was very much diScour-
aged and disappointed at the action
taken by President Coolidge on the
Muscle Shoals legislation" Norris said
II think 1t is natural to expect that
! should have been very anxious to
have the President sign the bill. and,
at first blush, 1t seems to me that II
he could not sign 1t. he should have
frankly and courageously stated his
reasons in a veto message. This would
have given Congress an opportunity to
pass on his objections when it re-as-
sembles next December.
But, on sober consideration. I am
able to see that the President, with his
broad. ken Enew England foresight,
may be right and may be justified In
attempting to kill the bill without pub
licly stating his objections 70 it In q
veto message.
"Just Entering Campaign"
We are just entering a great r.
ttnAlAA we dTc entering ll
handicapped with our failure to redeem
our promises made to the American
farmer. The Muscle Shoals law would
have given great assistance to Ameri-
can agriculture. It would have given
great satisfaction to millions of pro-
greSSive. thinking citizens. who desire to
preserve our natural resources. But it
would have been terrible slap at the
power trust.
The water power trust Is perhaps
larger than any other growing monopoly
in the United States. reaching, as il
does, into every community and TO
every fireside. 1t has wonderful pos
sibilities intimately connected with So
ctal. economic and business life Of our
entire country
ITO have offended this great trust BY
approving the Muscle Shoals bill would
have dried up sources of revenue that
we must have in the great campaign
just ahead Of us. The failure of this
bill may disappoint American farmers
interested In fertilizer: it may drive
away from the administration candi-
date a large number of progressive.
thinking citizens. but 1t win give us
money in unlimited profusion and en-
able us to win the election by control
ing the political machine and the
sources Of publicity.
THE power trust has received a black
eye recently In the terrible exposures
made by the Federal Trade Com
mission and. no doubt. the managers
of that great monopoly have been con-
discouraged; but the failure
of the Muscle Shoals legislation VIII
give them new courage and will open
their financial chests with q freedom
that Will be illuminating and startling.
Money is the great source for oiling
and operating political machines, and
the failure of this bin viii give us an
Of 1t in the coming CAM
paign.
Sees Third Party Threat.
"Of course, in writing q veto mes
sage. IL would have been necessary to
state the reasons therefore. This
would have been unwiSe and perhaps
SO. after all. the method
pursued may be sound. In the end. be
the best,
The country still lives. but the water
power trust Is in control. and with its
unlimited financial assistance. we
should again ride to victory in the
coming election,
The failure of the Muscle Shoals
eRtSlati0n may Ne the last straw that
xill bring q third party into the field,
but Ii will lack funds to carry on an
aggressive campaign and viii be terri
bly, handicapped In the publicity field,
We will have the money To dominate
he attitude of publicity and can arouse
The enthusiasm Of the unsuSpecting
loterS To use the words of a leading
of the power trust. we will
pin the hoisheyik idea ON our op-
,onents." and sail through To victory
n an outhurst of partisan excitement
md enthusiasm"
Question Of Adjournment.
The Constitution, article |, section Z.
clause =, says that III any bin shall not
Dc returned by the President within 10
lays tSunday eSceptedl after II shall
nave been presented to him, tha same
shall be q law in like manner as Ii he
had signed It, unless the Congress, BY
heir adjournment. prevent It's return.
In which case II shah not be law"
Upon the question Of the pocket veto
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