Evening star., 1932-05-11
Two Needed Amendments
To the Constitution
To the Editor Of The Star.

Experience with some Of the recent
amendments TO the Constitution of the
United States has confirmed the con-
viction in the minds of thoughtful
people that 1t should never be amended
except In response to an imperative de-
mand to meet some need that would
undoubtedly have been provided for by
the trainers of the Constitution had the
need then existed or could have been
foreSeen by them.
1here exist at present two such needs
that demand a remedy and which can
only be remedied BY amendments to the
constitution of the United States,
namely:
FlfSt. An amendment empowering
the president to veto any particular
item OF bill without having. as at
present TO veto the entire bill in order
10 rld II OF some unmeritorious item.
second. An amendment to Amend
ment XVI empowering the Congress to
tax all securities that are now tax
exempt.
me aforementioned defect in the
- Soi.3IlIutlon Isl regarding the veto power
0l - lIIe PRESIDENT was realized long be-
fore the Civil War. and when the con-
atlCetlon OF the Confederate States was
GRATED and adopted it gave to the
fIeslaeht the veto power suggested and
~, ~ 'uIh' a similar provision appears in
INC CONSTITUTIONS of most of the States
l..e IIieIe Is nothing in the legislative
history Oh the Congress that has been
more reprehensible or fraught with more
eVIi consequences than the practice of
edGkIng on as riders to general Appro
prIatlon bills utterly unmeritorious and
IllGeienSlDle items that could not be
enacted as separate bills. or. if en-
t acteo as such, would certainly be We
toed by the President.
~, ~ thlS vicious practice, made pos
s sIpie py the Constitution, that is re-
spolIslDIe Ior and has made possible
tLusr n,,orii ol Wnat has become known as
pol, poIA-oarrel legislation, which has
Sos. Ios.o oi government and the staggering
oeHclC that now confronts the FednraI
tI1oVeIhInent: ~ which is in large measure
eHe cause Tor the present depression
anu VI the appalling social distress
11inoLg the masses of the people. a con-
ultlon SO widespread and serious in its
eHects that many thoughtful people are
becoming apprehensive of the stability
Oh otr Government and social order IN.
less IL Is speedily remedied.
Ho 70 an amendment empowering the
.a a. government to tax exennnt
securities, its necessity has become self
eEloeht. The total outstanding dehte
Oh TIE Federal, State and local govern
mentS are more than thirty billions or
nearly one-third of the total natio,, o1
wealth. represented by OUTSTANDING tay-
exempt ponds and notes. At all finee
ana more particularly under present
conditions when the governments must
increase taxes to balance their budgets
people OF means put their money in
CheSe securities, thus escaping TAXATION
anu anu conGrloutlng nothing to the SUD-
poI' oI tne Government. The result is
tnE cruShlng burdens of government
IAN upon the poor and those who are
Ieast able to bear them, while those
VINO by reason of their possessions are
most IN need of the protection of the
government pay nothing for that nro-
tectlon OF which they are the greatest
oenehclarleS, while the poor classes who
nave little need of the fostering care
ana protection of the Government are
the ones who are made to slprrort II
Such injustice is manifest, and will not
longer be tolerated by the people
Inc tneorles upon which the financial
oohgatlons OF the governments are
exempt from taxation are unsolInd and
nave been utterly exploded by develon-
ments OF the past few years. and the
present economic conditions. and of the
conscious realization on the part Of the
people Of the indefensible Injustice it
does to the masses.
ALEXANDER SIDNEY LANIER.