The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-29
VETO THE THIRD.
Presidential Objections to the
Legislative, Executive and
Judicial Bill.
National Associated Press to the Star.

NatOnal ASSOclated PrcSS 10 tne Sthr.
WASHINGTON, May 29-The following is
asynopsis OF the message of the President
yetoing the Legislative, Executive and Ju-
dicial Appropriation Bill:
To the House of Representatives:
After mature consideration of the bill
entitled IAN act making appropriations for
the Legislative, Executive and Judicial
expenses of Government for the fiscal year
ending June Both, $780, and for other pur-
poses" l herewith return it to the House
of Representatives, in which it originated,
with the following objections to its ap-
proval:
'The main purpose of the Committee is
to appropriate the money required to sup.
port, during the next fiscal year, the several
civil departments of the Government. The
amount appropriated exceeds in the aggre-
gate $lS, 100000. This money is needed to
keep in operation the essential functions of
all the departments of Government Legis-
lative, Executive and Judicial.
"Ifthe bill contained no other provisions,
no objections to its approval would be
made. 1t embraces, however, number of
clauses relating to subjects of great general
interest, which are wholly unconnected
with the appropriations which it provides
for.
"The objections to the practice of tacking
general legislation to appropriation bills
especially when the object is to deprive a
coordinate branch of the Government of
i@ right TO the free exercise of its own dis
cretion and judgment touching such gen.
erA legislation, were set forth in the spe-
Gial message in relation to House Bill No.
1, which was returned to the House Of
Representatives or the 29th of last month.
II regret that the objections which were
then expressed to this method of legislation
have not seemed to Congress of sufficient
weight TO dissuade them from this renewed
incorporation of general enactments in an
appropriation bill, and that my consttu-
tional duty in respect OF the general legis-
lation thus placed before me can not be dis
charged without seeming to delay however
briefly, the necessary appropriations by
Congress for the support of the Govern
ment
"Without repeating these objections l
respectfully refer to that message for a
statement Of my views on the principle
maintained"
The message then recites the objectiona-
BILE clauses of the bills, and the sections of
the revised statutes sought to be repealed
thereby.
He explains the true meaning and effect
of the proposed legislation, and quotes
articles of the Constitution to prove that
the founders OF the Republic regarded the
election of members of Congress as of great
interest to the whole country, and he re-
flutes the claims made by the trainers of the
bill that the election of members of Con-
gress is matter which concerns the States
alone.
Nearly all the points of the message have
heretofore been published in the debates
on the bill in both houses
The message concludes as follows "This
bill recognizes the authority and duty of
the United States to appoint supervisors to
guard and scrutinze the Congressional
elections but it denies to the Government
of the United States all power to make its
supervision effectual. The great body of
the people OF all parties want free and fair
elections
"They do not think that free election
means freedom from the wholesome re-
straints of law, or that the place of an cleo
ton should be sanctuary for lawlessness
and crime.
"0n the day OF an election peace and good
order are more necessary than on any other
day of the year. On that day the hun,blest
and feeblest citizens, the aged and the in
firm should be, and should have reason to
feel that they are, safe in the exercise of
their most responsible duty, and their most
sacred right as members of society, their
duty and their right to vote.
"The Constitutional authority to regulate
the Congressional elections which belongs
to the Government of the United States,
and which it is necessary to exert to Sc
cure the right to vote to every citizen LOS
sessing the requisite qualifications, ought
to be enforced by appropriate legislation.
>, 80 FAR from public opinion in any part of
the country favoring any relaxation OF the
authority of the Government in the protec.
tion of elections from violence and corrup-
tion, l believe it demands greater vigor,
both in the enactment and in the execution
of laws framed for that purpose.
Amy oppression, any partisan partality |
which experience may have shown in the |
working of existing laws may well engage |
the careful attention both of Congress and |
of the Executive in their respective spheres
Of duty for the correction of these mis-,
chiefs.
"As no Congressional elections occur I'M
til after the regular session OF Congress will |
have been held, there seems to be no
public exigency that would pre-.
clude seasonable consideration at
that session of any administrative
details that might improve the present
methods designed for the protection of all
ei'iIehS III INC oihplete anu equal exercise
of the right and power of the suffrage at
such elections. But with my views, both
of consttutonality and of the value of
existing laws can not approve
any measure for their repeal
except in connection with the enactment of
other legislation which may reasonably be
to afford wiser and more efficient
for free and honest Congresson-
ri elections. RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.