The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-23
THE VETO SHOP.
fraudulent Pronunciamento No 3.


toiDg the judicial Expenses bill: :
Iothe House of Representatives: After :
careful examination of the bill entitled an J
act making appropriations for certain ju- ]
dlcial expenses, return it herewith to the !
house Of representatives in which it orig !
mated, with the following objections to its :
APPROVAL {
The general purpose Of the bill is to :
nroyide for certain judicial expenses Of /,
the government for the fiscal year ending ;
lime 3Olh, 1880, for which the sum of !
80 600. 900 is appropriated. The appro- ,
priations are required to keep in operation /
the general functions of the judicial de-
partment of the government, and it the
mart of the bill stand alone there would be
no objection to its approval. 1t contains,
however. other provisions which desire
respectfully to ask your attention. At
the present session OF congress majority
of the houses faVoring repeal OF the con-
rressional election laws, embraced in title
2G of revised statutes, passed a measure
for that purpose, as part OF bill entitled
an act making appropriation for the legis-
lative. executive and judicial expenses of
tne government for the fiscal year ending
June 3Oth, 1880, and for other purposes.
Unable to concur with congress iI that
measure, on the 29tE OF May |
last, l returned the bill tol
the house Of representatives in which 1t
originated without my approval, tor that
further consideration for which the con- |
stitution provides. On reconsideration the
bill was approved by less than two-thirds
of the house and failed to become q Law.
The election lsws therefore remain valid
enactments, the law, binding not only upon
ali private citizens, but also alike and
equally binding upon all who are charged
with the duties and responsibilities of the
legislative executive and judicial depart
meuts of the government. Is it not sought
by the bill before me to
repeal the elective lawsP Its
object is to defeat their enforcement,
The last clause of the first section is as fol-
lows And no part Of the money hereby
appropriated is appropriated to pay any
salaries, compensation, fees or expenses
under or in virtue Of title 26 of revised
statutes or of any provision of said title.
Title 26 of the revised statutes referred to
in the foregoing clause is in relation to the
elective franchise, and contains laws now
in force regulating congressional elections
The second section of the bill reaches
much further, it is as follows
SECTION 2, That sums appropriated il
this act for persons and public service em
braced in its provisions are in full for sucl
persons and public service for the fsca
year ending June Both, 1880, and no de
partment or officer OF the government shall
during said fiscal year, make any contrac
or incur any liability for future paymel
of money under any Of the provisions o
title 2G Of the revised statutes OF the u. 5
authorizing appointment or payment o
general or special deputy marshGls for ser
vice in connection with elections, or 0
election day unless contract or pay tor sue
liabilities shall have first been made b
law, This section Of the bill is intended
make extensive aud essential changes
existing laws. Following are the provis
ions of the statutes on the same subjec
which are now in force.
SECTION 2679. No department of ii
government shall expend in any one tisc
year any sum in excess OF appropriation
made by congress for that fiscal year, {
involve the government in any contract II
future payment of money IN excess
such appropriation until there gre a.
preparations sufficient to meet such.
SECTION 2732, No contract or purcha
on behalf OF the United States shall
made, unless sthe same is authorized
law. or is under an appropriation adequa
to its fulfllment. Except in the war ar
navy departments tor clothing and So
sistence fuel, quarters or transportation
Which, however, shall not exceed Il
necessaries of the current year. The o
iect OF these sections OF the revis
statutes is plain. 1t is first to preve
any money from being expended unle
appropriations have been MAJ
therefor, aud second, to preve
the government from being bou
By contract not previously authC
necessary purposes in the war aud ma
departments, under existing laws, t
the failure of congress to make the app
priations required for the execution Of I
election laws would not prevent tn
enforcement. The gat and duty to appo
general and special duty marshals, VIII
they provide for, would still remain, a
the executive department of the govel
ment would also be empowered to iDt
the requisite liability for their oompen
ton. But the second section Of this
contains prohibition not found 10
previous legislation. Its design is
render the telection laws imperative {
dead letters During!the next fiscal y
it is sought to accomplish this by omit
to appropriate money for their enfor
ment, and by expressly prohibiting
department or officer of the governm
from mourning any liability under any
the provisions of title 26 Of the revi
statutes, authorizing appointment
payment Of general or special deputy n
shals for service On election di
until appropriation sufficient to pay 8
liabilities shall have FIRST beeu made.
president is called upon to give his aft
ative Of approval to the positive enactn
which, in effect, deprives him of the
dlnary and necessary means Of execu
the laws still left on the statute book,
embraced within his constitutional {
to see that said laws are executed. II
approves the bill, and thus gives to s
positive enactments authority of law
participates in the curtailmeut OF
means Of seeing that the law is faitht
executed, while obligation of law ant
constitutional duty remains unimpai
Inc appointment of special deputy 1
shals IS not made by statute the 8
taneOus act OF authority on the part Of
executive or judicial officer Of the gov
ment, but is accorded as a popular rigl
the citizen, to call into operation
agency for securing the freedom of
Ho1s In any city or town having 5000
ha6ltaDts or upward
oeetlon 202l of revised statutes put
the power Of any two citizens of such
Vi town to require Of the marshal OF
ulstrlct, the appointment of
SPECIAL deputy marshnis. Thnrennnr