Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-08-10
The Message on the Sundry Civil
Appropriation Bill.
WASHINGTON. July g


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 Representatives: The act
making appropriations for the sundry civil
penses of the Government for the fiscal year end
ing June 80 1877 is so defective in what il omits
to provide for, that l cannot announce its ap-
proval without at the same time pointing out what
seems to be to me its defects. 1t makes
but inadequate provision for the service
st best and in some instances fails 10
make any provision whatever. Notably among
the first class is the reduction in the
ordinary annual appropriation for the Revenue
Cutter Service 10 the prejudice of the Customs
Revenue. The same may be said OF the Signal
Service also the failure TO provide for the in
creased expenses devolved upon the minis and
assay offices by recent legislation, and Tor the ro-
tecuon, preservation: and complexion OF puonc
buildings for which there is no adequate appropri-
alton. The sum of s1000o0 only Is appropriated
for repairs of different navy-yards and stations,
and the preservation of the same the ordinary and
customary appropriations for which are not less
than $1,000 0. A similar reduction is made in
expenses for armories and arsenals The provision
for ordinary judicial expenses is much less thar
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-haf OF the usual appropriation for
that service and what understood to be its &C
Iual demands
The reduction in the expenditures for light
houses, beacons and fog-stations is also made in
similar proportion.
OF the class for which no appropriation is made
among the most noticeable perhaps, is that per-
| ton 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 failures to
| make reasonable contribution to the ex-
penses of the Nations Capital is an APP
parent derehction on the part of the United States
| and rank injustice TO the people here, who
bear 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 preudicial 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 1herefrom 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 q diverse and greatly
extended civil service, unhapplly appropriates an
| amount not more than sixty five per cent of its
| ordinary demands
| The Legislative Department establishes and de-
fines the service, and devolves upon the Executive
| Departments the obligation of submitting annually
the needfui estimates of the expenses of such serv
ice Congress properly exacts implicit ODE dience to
the requirements of the law in the administration
OF the public service, and rigid accountability in
| the expenditure thereof. 1t is submitted that
corresponding responsibility and obligation rests
upon it to make adequate appropriations to render
| possible such administration. Anything short of
al ample provision for specified service is neces
ssrly fraught with disaster public interests and
| is possible injustice TO those charged with its
execution. To appropriate and to execute are cor
responding obligations and duties, and the ade
quacy the former is a necessary measure for the
efficiency of execution.
! In this eighth month of the present session Of
Congress. nearly month of the fiscal year to
which this appropriation applies having passed, 1
do not feel Warranted III yetolng an absolutely
deem it duty to show where the responsibility
| belongs for whatever embarrassments may arise
! in the execution of the trusts confded to me.
/ III. s GRANT.