From the Collection: President Franklin Roosevelt’s veto of Senate Bill 1431

The 2018-2019 Georgia History Festival theme focuses on the U.S. Constitution and this month we are sharing materials from the GHS collection relating to the executive branch.

President Franklin Roosevelt’s veto of Senate Bill 1431, for the relief of the Collier Manufacturing Company of Barnesville, Georgia, 1936 MS 2665 Collier family papers

The Collier Manufacturing Company of Barnesville, Georgia received a government contract in 1918 to make union suits for the United States Army. However, the war ended and the contract was cancelled, but not before Collier put money into materials and machinery for the order. So began a decade long attempt to recoup losses from the government.  In the early 20th century companies could bring claims through congressional bills. And in 1933 Collier’s was passed by the house and the senate only to be vetoed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The Collier family continued to bring bills until 1949 but was unsuccessful. During his four terms President Roosevelt used his veto power a record 635 times.