Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-05-05

vi the DouCicuCy AppIOPAAahch oaAA-
WASHING TON. May l. The President
sent to the House to-day the following
message vetoing the deficiency sppro-
priation bill:
Tohe HOUSE of Representatives:
After mature consideration OF the
bin entitled, "an Act making appropri-
atoms to supply certain deficiency IN
the appropriations for service oil the
Government for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1880, and for other purpose"
/ return it to the House OF Representa-
tives, in which il originated, with my
objections to its passage. The bill appro-
pirates about 5000, 900, OF which over
$500, 900 is for the payment OF
fees of United States marshals and
OF general and special deputy marshals,
earned during the current fiscal year and
their incidental expenses. The apprO-
priations made In the bill are needed TO
carry on the operations OF the Govern
ment and to fulfill its obligations for the
payment of money long since due to Its
officers, for services and expenses es-
sential to the execution OF their duties
under the laws OF the United States.
The necessity for these appropriations
is so urgent and they have been already
so long DELAYED that il the bill before me
contained no permanent original legls-
lation unconneCted with these appro-
priations, it would receive my prompt
approval. Ii contains, however, proyi-
sions which materially change and, by
implication, repeal important parts OF
the laws for the regulation OF United
States elections. These laws have, Tor
several years past, been the subject OF
vehement political controversy, anu
have been denounced as unnecessary,
oppressive and unconstitutional. On
the other hand, il has been
maintained, with equal zeal and
earnestness that the election laws are
indispensable to fair and lawful cleo
tiOns, and are clearly warranted by the
Constitution. Under these circumstances
to ATTEMPT, in an Appropriation bill, the
modification or repeal of these laws, is
to annex a condition To the passage oil
needed and proper appropriations.
which tends 10 deprive the executive oil
the equal and independent exercise oil
discretion and judgment which the Con-
stitution contemplates. The objection
TO the bill, therefore, to which respect
fully ask your attention, Is, that II gives
marked and deliberate sanction, attended
by circumstances OF pressing necessity, to
the questionable, and as | am clearly of
the opinion, the dangerous practice OF
tacking upon appropriation bills general
and permanent legislation. This practice
opens wide the door To hasty, inconsld-
ate and sinister legislation. Ii invites
attacks upon the independence and
Constitutional powers Of the executive,
by providing an easy aud effective way
of constraining executive discretion.
Although of late this practice has been
resorted to by all political parties
when clothed with power, II did
not Arevail until forty years after the
adoption of the Constitution, and
il Is confidently believed that II
is condemned by the enlightened judg-
ment of the country. The States which
have adopted new constitutions during
the last quarter of the century have gen
erally provided remedies for the evil.
Many OF them have enacted that no law
cllEll NOuldltl Niihh WV oNblNNNt
which shall be plainly expressed in its
title. The constitutions OF more than
half OF the States contain substantially
this provision or some other OF a like
intended meaning. The public welfare
will be promoted in many ways by
the return tn the early practice OF the
government and To the true rule
Of legislation, which is, that every
measure should stand upon its own
merits, | am firmly convinced that APP
preparation bills ought not to contain
any legislation not relevant 10 the appli-
cation OF expenditure OF money thereby
appropriated aud that by strict adher-
ance to this principle an important aud
much need of reform will be accom-
plished. Placing my objection to the
bill on this feature ofits frame, forbear
any comment upon the important, gen
eral and permanent legislation which II
contains as a matter for specific and in
dependent consideration.
lSigned,l RUTHERFORD II. Hays,
Executive Mansion, May 1, 1880.