Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-02
VETO ACTION LAID
T0POOR STRATEGY
President Poorly Advised.
Only S81 900, 900 Was
Involved.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
Slowly the story emerges of Presi-
dent RooSeveltS unsuccessful fight to
have his veto sustained.
It appears that, with the right kind
of strategy, MIR. Roosevelt might have
won. For the difference between his
position and that of his opponents
was not S228,000000, as has been
supposed. Estimates made by the
Veterans Bureau as to what the
Presidents laSt-minute proposals OF
compromise would have cost the
Treasury reveal about $20,000000 more
cost on the bill as finally written than
would have been the case had Mr.
Roosevelt's suggestions prevailed. AS
to the Federal pay cut. the President
was willing to go SCI 100000 toward
meeting the demand of Congress that
Federal employees be given back part
of the reduced pay. whereas the law
added a total of S124000.000.
So adding the 500 600, 900 difference
between the White House and Con-
gress on the Federal pay cut and the
S20,0O0,000 on veterans, the total of
about $81 100000 stood between the
Executive and the dissenting legisla-
tors. These figures may have some
slight variation in them. depending
upon a number of technical factors
involved, but in round numbers they
are approximately correct.
Fundamental Principle Raised.
Hence the controversy between the
President and Congress is not as
deeply a matter of economy as it has
seemed on the surface With pro-
spective deficit of more than $4,000
100000 for this fiscal year and per-
haps half that sum for the next fiscal
year, it was difficult for members of
Congress to understand why the
President vetoed the bill, anyway
1t is true that a fundamental prin-
ciple was raised by the President
when he asked that the veterans
restored to the pay roll be regarded
as temporary till the facts could be
reviewed in some 10000 cases, but
Congress took the position that there
was no certainty about the way red
tape would function, and the surest
way Was to grant the funds and let
some future Congress revise the
practice.
Knowing therefore, that the Fed
eral pay cut would have to be re-
stored as costs of living rose-espe-
cially as the Government has been
urging industry to increase wages 10
per cent-there was no real difficulty
about going along with Congress on
that issue. 1t was not sufficient to
risk the overriding of veto.
Poor Advice Is Seen.
AS for the veterans allowances it
might be asked why the President
permitted mere difference of $40
100000 to be the cause of break be-
tween himself and the members of
his own party in Congress, especially
since he did not have ready a ma
tional policy on the veterans prob
lem that could be satisfactorily ap-
piled to the sick or disabled.
The answer given now is that the
President was not properly advised.
On Capitol Hill the explanation ad-
vanced is that most of the Demo-
Gratis voted for the bill when it was
up for first passage believing that Mr..
Roosevelt would sign it. The fact
that Senator Byrnes of South Caro-
lima was active in trying to bring
about a compromise, even though he
frankly did not claim to be speaking
for the President, was taken by many
OF his colleagues as meaning that the
bill would not be vetoed
Somewhere between the Capitol and
the White House the channels of
communication became clogged or
clumsy. There are stanch Demo-
Gratis who insist today that, had the
President understood the legislative
situation, he never would have been
led to veto the bill. especially since so
many of his friends had become COM
mltted by their first votes when they
thought he was in agreement with
them.
Still Comma ds Confidence.
Whether the truth is that the ma
chinery of advice failed to function,
or whether the President, who was
overwhelmed with detail as he was
struggling with the motor strike and
railroad problems. did not call to his
side the right advisers, the fact re-
mains that Congress is far from sat
isfled with the patchwork settlement
of the veterans issue and is ready for
comprehensive revision at the next
session. Also 1t is clear that Mr..
Roosevelt still commands the conf
dence of his party in Congress and
Will continue to do so provided he
does not make it difficult for them, in
this, an election year, to handle or
gained minorities. If he were to take
the stump, it would be a different
thing. If he were to appeal for a
Democratic Congress and make the
issue vote of confidence in his ad-
ministration. it might also be different.
But the Democrats in Congress re-
alize both these contingencies are un-
likely and that they must fight their
own battles without a Roosevelt on
the ticket this time. All the more
reason why, when a mere $1,000 900
difference comes up in an atmosphere
of billion dollar spending, they hope
the President will not make things
hard for them by raising broad issues
about permanent OUTLAWS at time
when the emergency spending spirit
is still in the air.
(Copyright 1934)