Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-08-04
The Presidents Message on the Sun
dry Civil Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON. July

WARRINGTON, July o1.
The following is the message which was
sent to the House by the President to-day
giving his objections to the Sundry Civil
Appropriation bill
TO the House of RepresentaIpes. The act
making appropriations for the sundry civil ex.
penses Of the Government for the nscal year end
ing June S0 1877 is SO defective in what Il omits
10 provide for, that l cannot announce Its ap-
proval without at the same time pointing ont what
seems to be to me its defects. II makes
but Inadequate provision for the service
make any provision whatever. Notably among
the hrst class Is the reduction in the
ordinary annual appropriation for the Revenue
revenue. The same may be said Of the Signal
Service, az also the failure to provide for the in
assay offices by recent legislation, and for the oro
ie ton, preservation, and completion OF public
buildings Tor which there Is no adequate appropri-
alton The sum of 800 900 only IL appropriated
for repairs Of different navy.yaids and etations
and the preservation Of the same the ordinary and
customary appropriations for which are not less
than $1,000 0. similar reduction IL made in
expenses for armoriee and arsenals. The provision
ior ordinary judicial expenses is much less than
the estimated amount for that important service
by the actual expenditures Of the last fiscal year
and certain demands of the current year
The provision for the surveys Of public lands is
less than one half OF the usual appropriation for
that service and what are understood to be its ac-
tual demands
The reduction in the expenditures for light
similar proportion.
OF the class for which no appropriation is made
among the most noticeable, perhaps, is that por-
u OF the general expenses of the District OF
Columbia in behalf OF the United States as
appropriated in former years, and judgments
OF the Court Of Claims. The fai ures to
make reasonable contribution to the ex-
penses Of the Nations Capital is an ap-
parent dereliction on the part Of the United States
and rank injustice TO the people here who
besr the burdens; while TO refuse or neglect to
provide for the payment of the solemn judgments
of its own courts is apparently to repudiate.
OF different character, but as prejudicial to
the Treasury is the omission to make provision to
enable the Secretary OF the Treasury to have the
rebel archives and records of captured and aban-
doned property examined, and information fur
nished hereirom for the use OF the Government.
Finally without further specification in detail,
1t may be said that the act which in its title pur-
ports to make provision for a diverse and greatly
extended civil service, unhappily appropriates an
ordinary demands
The Legislative Department establishes and de-
fines the service, and wolves upon the Executive
Depart ents the obligation of submitting annua ly
the needfu estimates ofthe expenses Of such serv-
Ice Congress properly exacts implicit OBJ dience to
the requirements Of the law in the administration
OF the public service and rigid accountability in
the expenditure thereof 1t IL submitted that q
corresponding responsibility and obligation rests
upon i to make adequate appropriations to render
possible such administration. Anything short Of
an ample provision for specified service is neces-
sariy fraught with disaster to public interests and
ID possible injustice 10 those charged with its
execution. To aDpro "riate and 10 execute cor
responding obligations and duties, and the ade-
quacy Of the former is a necessary measure for the
efficiency of execution.
In this eighth month Of the present session Of
Cong ess. nearly one month OF the fiscal year to
which this appropriation applies having passed, |
do not feel warranted in vetoing an absolutely
necessary appropriation bill, but in signing it 1
deem it duty to chow where the responsibility
belongs for whatever embarrassments may arise
In the execution of the trusts confded to me.
u. g. GRANT.