COOLIDGE VETOES OMNIBUS PENSION BILL
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On May 4, 1924, The Evening Star reports Calvin Coolidge exercised the veto power for the first time in his presidency yesterday by returning to the United States Senate the Bursum-Fuller omnibus pension bill "without his approval."
The President deemed the bill an "unwarranted expenditure of the money of the taxpayers." According to the Star, Mr. Coolidge considers the welfare of the nation more important than the needs of pensioners.
Senator Helm Bursum* (R-New Mexico), co-sponsor of the bill, moved that the matter be tabled for the present and taken up on Tuesday.
*Holm Olaf Bursum (1867-1953) was born in Ft. Dodge, Iowa & his activities in New Mexico were instrumental in the territory gaining statehood. HOB served in the US Senate 1921-1925.
JFK+50 NOTE
Senator Bursum was appointed to the Senate in 1921 by President Harding replacing Albert B. Fall who was implicated in the Teapot Dome scandal. Mr. Bursum was defeated for reelection in 1924.
Coolidge had 20 regular & 30 pocket vetoes, 50 total, during his tenure. The POTUS with the most vetoes is FDR with 635 total while Cleveland is second with 414.
Will Scathlocke argues that based on time in office, GC actually surpasses FDR in use of the veto power. WS says that most of Cleveland's vetoes were on civil war pension bills while FDR's were mostly on "pet projects" for local issues during the Great Depression.
SOURCES
"President Vetoes Pension Measure," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., May 4, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"Vetoes 1789 to Present," United States Senate, www.senate.gov/
"Why did FDR veto 372 bills....," by Will Scathlocke, Quora, www.quora.com/
