Evening star., 1938-01-12
ITEM VETO PLAN
FACESOPPOS|T|ON
IN TEST IN SENATE
House Votes Roosevelt Riqht
to Strike Out Certain
Appropriations.
POWER is DELEGATED
BY CHANGE IN BILL
Vandenberg Considers Resolution
for Amending Constitution
to Give Authority.


sirable legislation has been that of
attaching them to appropriation
bills. With President unable to peto
parts OF bill and fearful OF retoing
entire appropriation measure, rider
usually became ldW as result. In
message to Congress, President
Roosevelt asked poWer OF item peto.
By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt's request for au-
thority to veto individual items in
appropriation bills encountered oppO-
sition in the Senate today after an
initial victory in the House.
The House voted to provide the
authority by an amendment to the
81 ,4l4 ,968,5l5 independent Offices ap-
preparation bill. which it passed yes
terday and sent to the Senate The
bill followed the Presidents recon-
mendations for a $44.00000O slash be-
low this years funds.
Meanwhile. Senate judiciary sub
committee fixed January 81 as the date
for public hearings on the Vanden-
berg resolution to write the item veto
power over appropriation bills into
the Constitution.
Senator Austin. Republican, of Ver-
mont refrained from expressing any
opinion on the merits of the item veto.
but said there was some doubt of the
validity OF the Woodrum amend
ment, which seeks to delegate that
power to the President by a legisla-
tive act without constitutional amend
ment.
I'VE might as we'll face the fact"
Senator Vandenberg had said earlier,
that most responsible legal author
tiles agree this change would require
a constitutional amendment
Glass FavorS Amendment.
Senator Glass. Democrat. Of Vir-
ginia said he favored such an amend
ment. Senator Adams. Democrat, of
Colorado called the House proposal
IAN effort to evade existing constitu-
tional provisions"
Senator Byrnes. Democrat, of South
Carolina on the other hand. said he
would favor the House legislation if
1t would accomplish the purpose, but
added he would have to study it fur
ther.
Some Senators declared privately
they would fight the whole idea of
vetoing individual appropriations on
the ground it would be an invasion
Of congressional power.
Mr.. Roosevelt asked for the authority
either by constitutional amendment
or ordinary observation-disclosures
Congress deemed proper
Position Under Present System.
Under the present system. IN order
to block an undesired appropriation of
ST 100000, the President might be
forceo to veto a 81 900 OOO. 900 bill pro-
viding other funds which might be
needed immediately
If authorized to cut out or reduce
an individual item. he could approve
the remainder of the bill. The House
with any changes within so days.
The House, in approving funds for
independent Federal agencies in the
fiscal year beginning next July /.
added $l50,000 to the recommended
$37,087,000 appropriation for the
Tennessee Valley Authority. Efforts
to replace a 1923. 900 900 cut in c. c. c.
funds failed, as did other attempts
to change the bills provisions.
Reports Budget Figure Cut.
Representative Ludlow. Democrat,
of Indiana, floor manager of the ap-
preparation bills for the Treasury and
Post Office Departments, which will
be considered tomorrow, said his sub
committee had approved "a big cut"
in the budget figures.
The Senate still was listening to
Southern members talk against the
bill.
Senator Byrnes told his colleagues
yesterday, The Negro has come into
control of the Democratic party"
He said the South has remained loyal
to that party because it believed
Northern Democrats would support it
when problems affecting the Negro
and the very soul of the South arose" !"
Tells of Opposition Gain.
Senator Connally, Democrat, of
Texas, leader of the opposition, said
the Southerners have picked up sew
eral votes" since the f1libuster began.
Republican Leader McNary de-
clared, however. the Southerners ARE
about out of speakers and predicted
q vote on the bill next week.
Senator Reynolds, Democrat, of
North Carolina, who has made one
long speech against the bill, said he
did not want to do anything that
will interfere with President Roose-
velt's legislation"