Evening star., 1940-12-18
Il be unnecessary.
By JOHN c. HENRY

GhplC lCoolIlS d COllVlCGlOll Clldt
the legislation would produce
the utmost chaos and paralysis
in the administration of the
Government at this critical
time" President Roosevelt today
vetoed the Logan Walter bill.
Subject of bitter controversy in
side and outside of Congress for
many months, the measure assert
edly was designed to establish uni
form procedure for a number of
quasi-judicial Federal agencies and
to facilitate appeals from their
decisions. 1t was passed by an
overwhelming margin in the House,
but by only two-vote majority in
the Senate. An effort to override
the veto has been generally pre-
dicted
In stating his disapproval of the
legislation, the President not only
emphasized what he considers its
shortcomings at this particular
time but likewise attacked the
merits of the measure in itself and
the motives of some of those sup
porting it. He buttressed his own
veto message with lengthy
analysis of the bill by Attorney
General Jackson, the latter recon-
mending against approval.
Action, Not Argument.
II am convinced" Mr. Roosevelt
said, that it is an invitation to
endless and innumerable contro-
versies at a moment when we can
least afford to spend either govern
mental or private effort in the lux
ury of litigation. Today, in sustain-
ing American ideals of Justice. an
ounce of action is worth more than
pound of argument"
House leaders made plans to call
up the veto during the afternoon.
With a tWo-thirdS vote necessary
to override the veto in both House
and Senate. Democratic chieftains
were hoping to muster enough
strength to sustain the President.
Before the veto message was sent
to Capitol Hill, the President con-
ferred briefly at the White House
with Speaker Rayburn and House
Majority Leader Mccormack, out
lining 10 them the arguments he
was advancing in opposition to the
measure
House Vote to Be Close.
AS they left the White House.
Speaker Rayburn predicted to re-
porters that the House vote on the
veto would be very close, citing fig
ures which indicated he is not very
optimistic that the President will be
upheld in the lower branch. Esti-
maing that between 300 and 325
members would be present and pre-
pared to vote today. the Speaker
said administration forces feel rea-
sonably sure of 100 votes. With
tWo-thirds majority required to over
ride a veto. these estimates would
leave sufficient anti-administration
strength unless some of the doubt
full votes are cast in support of the
President.
The bill was originally passed by
the House by count of 176 to 81.
The vote in the Senate was q to
20, with A Senators unrecorded.
The President acted on the 10th
and last day allowed him since the
legislation received final congress
sional approval.
Sees Bureau Trend Cancelled.
Acknowledging universal agree
ment with the stated objective of
establishing fairness in administra-
tive proceedings, Mr.. Roosevelt said
he felt sure that in reality the effect
OF the bill would be to reverse, and
to large extent cancel "one of the
most significant and useful trends
OF the goth century in legal admin
istration."
In brief, the trend referred to is
the evolution of administrative tri-
bunals or agencies to handle con-
troversles arising under particular
statutes, thus eliminating in part at
least the necessity for much in
dlvidual recourse to litigation.
Advance OF American jurispru-
dence, he continued, must be along
two principal lines. First of these
is the cheapening. expediting and
simplifying of the judicial process
ltself-a development which he said
already is under way. The second
ne described as experimentation of
the judicial process by adminis-
trative tribunals wherever necessity
arises for deciding issues on a
quantity production basis"
Turning at this point to the mo-
tlves OF some of the Logan-Walter