New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-05-01
THE AUTHORSHIP OF THE VETO.
TINE MESSAGE DRAWN UP ny MR.. HAYES HIMsELF

AND NOT INSPECTED BY ANY CABINET OFFICER
UNTIL SENT TO CONGRESS.
lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUSE1
WASHINGTON. April 30.-It may be asserted upon
the highest authority that the veto message which
was transmitted to Congress yesterday was never
formally discussed at any meeting of the Cabinet
Indeed, the matter was never at any time even re-
ferred to in the Cabinet President l.. yes, fore
seeing that the bill would eventually pass without
amendment and seeing no occasion to change hls
opinion from the start viz, that the bill should not
be approved, set himself to work npon his mes
sage which he was able TO write. and did
write some time before the bill was presented TO
him. Reports and surmises to the contrary nOtwlth-
standing 1t is also fact that the message, III its
legal and all other aspects, was written by MI
Hayes himself It's treatment of the subject was
not known to several members of the Cabinet until
after the message bad been sent to the House OF
Representatives yesterday. When the Cabinet met
at the White House at IL o'clock the members were
Informed of the Transmission Of the communication,
and were each presented with printed copy of the
message in pamphlet form.
The fact thar 1t is usually the custom for
President formally TO submit his action with
respect to important matters i'll general, and I'M
portant messages to Congress in particular, TO the
Cabinet, might make the action of Mr.. Hayes re-
irregular. But the occasion was peculiar one,
and the circumstances certainly JUSTIFY the Presi-
dent in doing promptly what has met the applause
of the Nation.
Although the veto was never discussed OF referred
to in any Cabinet meeting the President consulted
each member of the Cabinet singy 10 his views
on the subject. Without giving his own views re-
Carding the matter, the President asked his Secre-
taries what each thought should be done. Then
after he HAD obtained the views of Cabinet officer
the President would remark that he had carefully
considered the matter in all its details and bad
about decided on what his message should be-
Strange TO say, all the members of the Cabinet coin
cided in their views with the President. This IS
fact which may be asserted upon the highest au-
thority, and it puts TO flight the idle rumors that
there was difference of opinion i'll the Cabinet on
the expedicncy of the veto.
The President was in doubt as to whether lie
he should return the Army bill with his veto at
once, or allow few days TO elapse. II was upon
this point that he especially consulted the members
of the Cabinet. They, to a man, advised prompt
action, upon the theory that the extra session of
Congress was called for the purpose of considering
the Army and Legislative Appropriation bills, and
that as on account of obnoxious "riders" to eacI,
they were both to be vetoed, it adgls Die to Jet
the House know at the earliest moment fhe atti-
tude of the Executive, and to allow the Democrats
the fullest and quickest time possb bic to reconsider
their policy and make the necessary support for the
Government.
lEor Comments ne Veto Message see Second FaGel