Statement on Presidential Practice of Explaining Vetoes of Bills.

The Constitution of the United States, with reference to bills presented to the President by the Congress, provides:

"If any Bill shall not be returned by the President within ten Days (Sundays excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the Same shall be a Law, in like Manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their Adjournment prevent its Return, in which Case it shall not be a Law."

In the past, it has been customary in most cases involving vetoes for the President to withhold his signature, thereby, in effect, allowing the bill to die without becoming a law.

The President has desired, however, to take a more affirmative position than this, feeling that in the case of most legislation reasons for definite disapproval should be given. Therefore, he has written on the copy of each bill the words "Disapproved and Signature Withheld" and has appended in every case a brief statement giving the reason or reasons for disapproval.

The bills identified below have been vetoed by the President and the reasons which lead to their disapproval are contained in the following statements: