Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-05-06

The Presidents back bone still remains
firm and another instance j. likrl, 20 be re-
corded Of Democratic failure 10 force i'm
proper legislation BY attaching political
riders 20 appropriation bills. On TUESDAY,
the President approved the Army and Fort
fca;ion bills but returned the Deficiency
bill TO the House. with his objections which
he gives a. follows
Il return il TO the House with my object
ions 20 lis passage. The bull appropriates
eight millions. of which over COO 900 j. for
the payment Of the fees Of United State
marshals and Of general and special depu-
" marshAls earned during the current
fiscal wear, and for their incidental ex penses
The appropriations made in the bill are
needed 10 carry on the operations Of the
government and TO fulfill It's obligations for
the payment Of money long since due for
services and expenses essential 10 the exc
cution of their duties under the laws Of the
United States. The necessity for these
appropriations il so urgent and they have
been already 90 long DELAYED tina; If the bill
before me contained no permanent or gsner-
Al Legislation uneonnected With these ap-
preparations il would receive my promp;
approval IL contains, however, provis-
ions which materially change and by i'm
pliea;ion repeal important parts Of the
law for the regulation Of United States cleo
tons
These laws have for several wear. pas,
been the subject Of vehement political con-
Ioversy and have been denounced as un-
necessary, oppressive and unconstitutional.
On the other hand i; has been maintained
with equal zeal and earnestness that the cleo
ton laws are indispensable TO fair and law
ful elections. and are clearly warranted BY
the constitution.
Under these circumstances to attempt in
an appropriation bill the modification or re-
peal Of these laws is 10 annex a condition 10
the passage Of needed and proper appropri-
atoms which tends TO deprive the Executive
Of that equal and independent exercise Of
discretion and Judgment which the constitu-
ton c0niemplates. The objection 10 the
bill therefore TO which l respectfully ask
your attention is that it gives marked and
deliberate sanction, attended by no circum-
stances Of pressing necessity to the question
able, AID, am clearly Of the opinion, the dan
gerous practice, Of lacking upon appropria-
ton bills general and permanent legislation
This practice opens wide the door to hssty,
inoonsidera;e and sinister legislation. Many
States have enacted that no Law shall con-
tain more than one subject, which shall
be plainly EXPRESSED in it's title. The con-
stituiions Of more than half the States con-
tain substantially this provision or soms 9th
er Of like intsn, and meaning.
The public welfare vii be promoted in
many WAYS by q return to the early practice
Of the government and TO the true rule OF
legislation which is that every measure
should stand its own merits. am firmly
convinced that appropriation bills ought not
to contain any legislation not relevant to the
application or expenditure Of the money
thereby appropriated, and tina, by stric, ad-
herence to this principss 80 important and
much needed reform will be accom- plished.
Placing my objection to the bill on this
feature of its frame, forbear any comment
upon the important general and permanent
legislation which il contains, as q matter for
specific and independent consideration.
RUTHERFORD b. HAYES.