FAILURE OF VETO

Taranaki Daily News, 31 March 1934, Page 7

FAILURE OF VETO

SENATE SUPPORTS HOUSE VETERANS’ COMPENSATION STATE WAGE CUT RETURN PRESIDENT REGAINS POWER RECIPROCITY OF TARIFFS By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Rec. 10.5 p.m. Washington, March 28. The United States affirmed the action of the House of Representatives in overriding President Roosevelt’s veto of the veterans’ compensation proposal, and enacted into law the Independent Offices Appropriation Bill granting increased allowances to war veterans and Government employees. The vote was 63 to 27 —little more than two-thirds of the necessary margin. Thirty-three Republicans, 29 Democrats and one FarmerLabour member voted against the President’s veto. A roar of cheering and applause rose from the galleries as Vice-President Garner announced that the Bill had passed. It means that approximately ninety to a hundred million dollars will be returned to Great War and SpanishAmerican War veterans annually without review of their cases to determine whether their disabilities were, of service origin. Government employees who had their salaries cut 15 per cent, by the Economy Act will get back 5. per cent, or 26,000,000 dollars.

In his veto message the President said the Bill provided 228,000,000 dollars more than the Budget estimates for the new fiscal year without suggesting ways of producing new revenue. After the disastrous reversal on the veterans’ compensation issue the Administration seemingly gained control of Congress to-day. The House of Representatives by 272 votes to 111 passed the measure giving power to President Roosevelt to arrange reciprocal tariffs. The only important amendment limits the President’s power to adjust the tariff by executive order to a three years’ period. The Senate by 46 votes to 30 passed the Bankhead Cotton Bill in spite of the protest of many Republicans that it was unconstitutional and would arbitrarily limit the amount of cotton the planter might produce. Although a few amendments were added by the House of Representatives to the draft requiring conferences it is virtually assured that the Bill will become law.

The heavy strain on the Budget which the Independent Offices Supply Bill entails is likely to become an important factor in the inflation controversy. Observers believe it will possibly revive demands for either printing press money or the remonetisation of silver, as Congress has provided no new taxation to meet the increased expense.