The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-29
SENATE RIDES
! OVER VETO ON
VETERAN ISSUE
Two Votes Swing Tide in
Most Dramatic Fight
of Session.
INSIDE STORY REVEALED
63- to-27 Vote CIimaXeS
Seven Hour Debate in
Chamber.
By United Press

By nited Press
WASHINGTON, March 29.-The
story of the administration des-
perate but unsuccessful fight to up
hold President Roosevelt's veterans
veto was revealed today as a con-
test for two votes which, if won
would have turned into victory the
crushing defeat suffered by admin
iStration forces.
1t was story of dramatic
struggle which went on behind the
scenes while the senate itself was
playing out its exciting combat be-
fore galleries crowded to their
limits.
The senate debated for seven
hours yesterday before it voted, So
to q, to override Mr.. Roosevelt's
veto.
This action was added to the 80
to 70 stampede in the house on the
previous day 1t meant that the in
dependent offices appropriation bill
adding $228,OO0,O0O above budget es-
Inmates in increased veterans eene-
fits and pay restoration for, govern
ment workers, automatically was
enacted into law despite the Presi-
dents disapproval.
Economy Program Hard Hit
In suffering this reversal. Mr.
Roosevelt met the same fate which
overcame his Republican prede-
ceSsors, Presidents Coolidge and
Hoover. They, too, had vetoed
veterans legislation only to be over
ridden by congress.
It meant also:
That congress had regained COM
mand of the pension rolls.
That the Roosevelt economy pro-
gram was almost, if not complete
ly, wrecked.
That congress, once free from
White House domination. might
strike out for itself in other di-
rections not sanctioned by the ad-
miniStration.
George Holds Firm
The administration centered it's
battle to sustain the Presidents
veto on two votes which were vi
tai to success. Senators Richard
B. Russell Jr. Dem, Ga) and F.
Ryan Duffy Dem, Wis., had agreed
to vote to uphold the President if
Senator Walter F. George Dem.
GaD would go along with them.
Throughout a day of intense
pressure, George steadfastly refused.
He was counted among the twenty
nine Democrats who voted with
thirty three Republicans to override
the veto.
Even with George. Russell and
Duffy on the administration side
there would not have been enough
votes to sustain the veto. The
White House counted upon Senator
Homer T. Bone Dem, Wash) to
supply the vote that, if the other
three had come over, would have
enabled Mr.. Roosevelt to weather
the turbulent congressional revolt.
Fails to Alter Position
Bone was not COmmlJJe0 IRE
vocably to the veterans cause. He
explained privately that he was vot-
ing with the veterans advocates be-
cause congress had failed to go
after" the people he believed had
been receiving special privileges from
the government.
While political considerations I'M
doubtedly influenced many votes. it
was a question whether or not this
would prove to have been wise
decision. Senator Willard E. Tyd-
ingS Dem, Md, told his colleagues
supporting the veto that the real
sentiment of the voters was toward
economy, rather than toward spe-
cial legislation for any particular
class.
The independent offices bill as
finally enacted into law over the
President'sveto provides for restora-
ton of one-third of the federal pay
reductions of Feb. l. with restora-
ton of another third on July l.
This amounted to S125, 000,0 900 above
budget estimates.