The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1879-05-01

section is, however, not presented to me as
a separate and independent measure,
but as 1t has been stated attached to q bill
making the usual annual appropriations
Ii prohibits, under heavy penalties, any
person engaged in the civil service Of the
United States from having any force at q
place of election, prepared to preserve
order, to make arrests, 10 keep peace, or in
any manner enforce the laws. This is al
together foreign to the purpose OF sny army
aspiration bill.
The practice OF attaching to army ap-
bills measures Lot pertinent to
euch bills, did not prevail until more than
fortv years after the adoption of the con-
stitution. 1t has now become the common
practice. All parties, when in power, have
adopted it. Many abuses and great wasts OF
public money have, in this way, erept into
appropriation bills. The public opinion OF
THE COUNTRY Is AGAINST IT.
states which have recently adopted consti-
buttons have generally provided q remedy
Tor the evil BY enacting that no law shall
contain more than one subject, which shall
be plainly expressed in the title. The
CT more than half of the
States contain substantially the provisions.
The public welfare will be promoted in
many ways by return to the early practice
of the government, and the principle of
legislation which requires that every
measure shall stand or fall according to its
own merits. II it were understood that to
attach to an appropriation measure irrev-
client to the general objAct Of the bill,
would imperil and probably prevent the
final passage and approval. A valuable
reform in the parliamentary practice Of
congress would be accomplished best.
The justification that has been offered for
attaching the irrelevalant riders to the APP
preparation bill, is that it is done for conve-
nience sake, to facilitate the passage Of
measures which are deemed expedient by
all branches OF the government, which
participate in legislation.
IT CANNOT BE CLAIMED
thatsthere ia any such reason for attaching
the amendment of election laws to the APP
preparation bill. The history of the
measure eontradicts the assumption. The
msjDrity of the House OF Representatives,
in the last Congress, was in favor Fl a sec
ton to the bill. 1t was established by the
consti ution and bylaws passed in pursuance
thereof. Their duties are clearly defined,
and their support is carefully provided for
by law.
Money required for this purpose has
been collected from the people, and Is low
in the treasury ready to be paid out "a soon
as appropriation bills are passed. Whether
the appropriations are made or not, the
collection Of taxes will 60 on, and the pub
lic money will accumulate in the treasury.
1t was not the intention OF the trainers OF
he constitution that any single branch OF
the government should have power 10
DICTATE THE CONDITION
upon which this treasury should be applied
to the purposes for which it was collected.
Any such intention, if it had been enter
tanned, would have been plainly expressed
In the constitution. That a majority of
The Senate now concurs in the claim of
adds to the gravity OF the solution. but does
not alter the question at issue. the new
doctrine, If maintained, will result in the
consolidation OF an unchecked and despotic
power In the House Of Representatives,
a bare majority Of the House will become
The government. The executive Will no
longer be what the trainers of constitution
intended-an independent branch Of the
government. 1t ia clearly the constitu-
'ional duty Of the President to exercise his
discretion and judgment upon all bills
presented to him, without constraint or
duress from any other branch Of the gov
eminent To say that majority of either
or both houses OF Congress may assist on
the approval OF the bill, under penalty OF
STOPPING ALL THE OPERATIONS
Of the government for want Of necessary
supplies, il 10 deny 10 the eX-
ecutive that show OF legislative powe,
which Is plainly conferred by the seventh
section of the second article of the cons;i.
luton. 1t strikes from the constitution TIE
qualified negative Of the President. l. i;
said this should be done because it Is the
peculiar Junction Of. the House of Repre-
sentatiyes TO represent the will OF The peo.
pie, but no single branch or department Of
he government has the exclusive auIhori
ty to speak for the American peo
pie. The most authentic and solemn
expression OF their will il contained
in the Constitution of the United States
Ry that constitution they have ordained
| .
ers are distributed among the co-ordinat.
branches, whic, SO far as possible, consist
emily with harmonious cooperation, are alb
solutely Independent Of each other. The
people OF this country are unwilling to see
the
SUPREMACY OF THE CONSTITUTION
replaced by the omnipotence Of any dis.
linct branch OF the Government. The en-
actment of this bill into Law will
establish precedent which will tend to de.
stroy the equal independence Of the several
branches OF the government. Its principle
states, that not merely the Senate and execu.
tive, but the Judiciary al-o, are under the
coercive direction Of The House. The
House alone, will be the judge of what con-
-titu,es and also of the means and meas
ures Of redress An act OF Congress to pro-
tect elections ia now the grievance com
may, on the came principle,
determine that any other act of Congress,
a treaty made by the President with the
advice and consent of the Senate, nomi-
nation or appointment to office, or that a
decision or opinion Of the supr eme court,
is a grievance, and that the measure OF re
dress is 10 withhold the appropriations re-
quired for the support of the offending
branch OF the government. Believing that
this is dangerous violation of
the spirit and meaning of
the constitution, | am compelled to
return it to the House, in which
it originated, without my approval. The
qualified negative with which the constitu-
ton invests the President is a trust that in
wolves a duty which | cannot decline TO
perform, with firm and conscientious pur-
pose to do what can TO preserve unim-
paired the constitutional powers and indie
pendencs, not merely of the executive but
of every branch Of the government which
will be imperilled by the adoption of the
principle Of the bull. i desire earnestly to
urge upon the House Of Representatives
return 10 the wise and Wholesome ussge
of the earlier days OF the Republic, which
excluded from the appropriation bills all
irrevelent legislation. By this course you
will inaugurate an important reform in the
method of congressional legislation. Your
action will be in harmony with the funds-
mental principle Of the constitution and
the patriotic sentiment of nationality,
which is their firm support and you will
restore TO the country that feeling OF conf.
dence and security and repo.e which ia 80
essential to the prosperity OF all our fellow
citizens.
lSigned RUTHERFORD b. HAYES.
Can't Preach Good.
No man can do a good Job OF work
preach a good sermon, try lawsuit we'll,
ioctor a patient, or write good article