Foolish & Demagogic?

For the second time in 32 days, last week the President vetoed a tax-reduction bill which had been passed by an overwhelming majority of Congressmen.

He loudly proclaimed that the bill was bad because it favored the uncommon more than the common income. Actually the bill provided that taxes should be reduced three times as much on small incomes as on big ones. Harry Truman had taken this dubious line in his first veto. This time he came down hard on another reason: while the world was in such a critical state, "it is unwise to make so large a cut in our Government's future income."

Harry Truman had thus provided himself with two campaign lines for 1948. Either could be used, depending on the political weather. If the world situation is sunny next January, Harry Truman can recommend his own tax-cut measure and get the credit for it in an election year. His crisis line could be taken as a tip that Harry Truman is also ready for dirty weather, prepared to treat 1948 as a short-of-war year, a time to face up to the threat of World War III and no time to change White House horses in midstream.

The House overrode the veto 299 to 108. Republican leaders congratulated one another with grins and handshakes, but their joyfulness was short-lived. The Senate, by five votes, failed to override. Enough Democrats had been impressed by the "world crisis" argument.

While Democratic leaders grinned and shook hands in their turn, Republicans glowered. Colorado Senator Eugene D. Millikin, floor manager for the bill, had proclaimed the G.O.P. position during the debate. He had called the President's action a "foolish veto" prompted by "sheer ignorance or sheer demagoguery." Other Presidents, Millikin had said, had "a decent respect for the right of Congress to control fiscal policy."

Harry Truman clearly felt no such respect, even though the Constitution gives Congress the sole power to raise money and pay the nation's debts. The President's constitutional right to veto any bill was just as explicit. But his moral right to defy the will of the people's representatives twice in 32 days was a question that would arouse debate, and make Republican campaign fodder for 1948.

As he left for a weekend cruise on the presidential yacht Williamsburg, Harry Truman looked preoccupied and tired.

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