Evening star., 1946-07-28
.TideIands Bill
Sent 10 Truman;
Veto Possible
Roll Retirement Plan
Voted as Congress
Seeks Adjournment
(Tidelands Roll Call on Page A-5.J
BY J.,A. O'leov

The House late yesterday sent
to President Truman the contro-
versial State-ownership of tide
lands bill, and a liberalized rail-
road retirement plan, as the 18th
Congress moved toward final ad-
journment Friday.
One of the major issues still
awaiting final action in the few re-
naming days of this Congress is
legislation to provide terminal leave
pay for millions of enlisted men.
House and Senate conferees will
make another effort to agree tomor-
row afternoon.
The long congressional battle over
ownership of rich submerged coastal
oil lands was put squarely up to
President Truman last night, when
the House voted, 1873 to ST, to give
the States clear title to tidelands
within their borders.
Would End Federal Claim.
In a suit now pending in the
Supreme Court. the Federal Cow
eminent is claiming title to tide
lands along the coast of California,
but if the President should sign this
bill the Federal claim to ownership
would be relinquished.
AS soon as the House had voted
thu %
bill, speculation began on Capitol
Hill as to what the Presidents de-
cision would be.
Before the Senate passed it last
Monday, Majority Leader Barkley
said he hoped Mr.. Truman would
reject it. The President, at his
Thursday news conference, refused
to disclose his position.
Krug Will Recommend Veto.
Opponents of the measure were
encouraged by the statement Of
Secretary of the Interior Krug, in
Friday night radio broadcast, that
ne would recommend a veto to the
White House. Mr. Krug emphasized
that he was not arguing the merits
of the legal question involved, but
believed it called for judicial rather
than legislative determination.
Supporters of the bill contend THAI
the Supreme Court already has re-
peatedly upheld State ownership.
In taking the position that the
Supreme Court should be given the
opportunity of deciding whether
the Federal Government or the
States own the tidelands, Mr.. Krug
is adhering to the stand of his
predecessor, former Secretary Ickes,
In some quarters it has been sug-
gested that veto might be con-
strued as slap at Edwin w. Pauley,
friend OF the President and now
American Preparations Ambassador.
who has supported the claim of the
States to title in the tidelands.
Issue Raised in Pauley Hearing.
On the other hand, by signing
the bill Mr.. Truman would be re-
versing the administration policy
in deciding to claim Federal owner
ship in court.
When Mr.. Truman nominated Mr..
Pauley for Undersecretary of the
Navy early this year, the tidelands
bill was one of the issues raised
in the Senate hearings, with Mr..
1ckes as one of the chief witnesses.
Mr.. Pauley put up a vigorous de-
tense, but agreed to withdrawal Of
his nomination before it went to
the Senate. He has continued to
represent the United States in the
handling of reparations in the war
zones.
The President has three courses
open to him: to sign the bill, to
send veto message back to Capt.
tol Hill before adjournment, or to
give it pocket Veto if Congress
adjourns before the bill has been
on his desk for 10 days.
Senate May Not Oppose Veto.
If the President fails to act on
bill within 10 days and Congress
is in session. it becomes law with
out his signature. If Congress has
adjourned during the ten DAYS, his
failure to sign kills the bill This
has come to be known as pocket
veto"
The House vote for State owner
ship yesterday was more than the
two-thirds required to override a
veto. In the Senate. however, the
bill passed by the closer margin Of
A to "a. indicating that branch
i
During House debate yesterday
Representative Hinshaw. Republic
can. of California. told members
that the only reason some individ-
uals oppose the bill is because "a
(See CONGRESS, Page A-6)