Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-05-14
President Hayes VetOes the Deficiency
Appropriation Bill.
wAsHINGToN, May

...t. u ... WASHINGTON, May A.
The President sent to the House to-
day the following message, vetoing the
Deficiency Appropriation bill: 1.tf
To the House of Representatives;
i After mature consideration of the bill en-
Titled IAN act making appropriations to sup
ply certain deficiencies in the appropriations
Tor the service of the Government for the fis-
cal year ending June 30, 1880, and for other
sentatives In which 1t originated, with my
objections 10 rs passage. The bin APP
propIiates, about $sOO,OOO of which over
fees fs''SS Of United States Iarshals a. and OF Of
general and special Deputy Marshals earned
during the current fiscal year, and their inoi-
dental expenses The appropriations made in
the bill are needed to carry on the operations
OF the Government and to fulfill its obliga-
tions for the payment of money long since due
to ils officers for services and expenses essen
tial to the execution Of their duiies under the
laws of the United States The necessity for
these appropriations is so urgent and they
have been already so long delayed that if the
bill before me contained no permanent or
legal legtslation uncunnected with these
appropriations 1t would receive my prompt
app oval. 1t contains, however, provis-
ions which materially change, and, by
implication, repeal important parts Of laws
for the regulation of the United States eec-
tions. These laws have for several years been
the subject of vehement political controversy,
and have been denounced as unnecessary, OPP
pressive and unconstitutional. On the other
hand, it has been maintained, with equal zeal
and earnestness that the election laws are in
dispensable to fair and lawful elections, and
are clearly warranted by the Constitution.
Under these circumstances to attempt. in an
appropriation bill, a modification or repeal of
these laws Is to annex condition TO the
passage of needed and proper appropriations,
which tends to deprive the Executive
OF that equal and independent exer-
cise of discretion and judgment which the
Constitution contemplates. The objection TO
the bill, therefore, to which | respectfully ask
your attention, is that it gives marked
nffn afI.1 Iwr,, ...s.
cumstances of pressing necessity, to the
questionable, and, as am clearly of the opln-
ion, dangerous practice of tacking upon ap-
preparation bills general and perman9nt leg!s-
latiOn This practice opens wide the door to
nasty, inconsiderate and sinis er legi Station
1t invites att icks upon the independence and
constitutional powers of tne Executive by
providing an easy and effec i've way of con-
straining the Executive discretion. Although
to. by all political parties when clJthed
with power, it did not prevail until
forty years after the adoption OF the
Constitution, and it is confidently believed
than il is condemned by the enlightened judy
ment of the country. The states which have
adopted new Constitutions during the last
remedies for the peril. Many of them have
enacted that no law shall contain more than
one subject, which shall be plainly expressed
in its title Constitutions of more than half
the states contain substantially this provis-
ion, or some other of like intent and meaning.
The public welfare will be promoted in many
ways by return TO the early practice of tue
Government and to the true interest of legis-
lation, which is that every measure should
stand upon its own merits.
| am firmly convinced that appropriation
| bills ought not to contain any legislation not
relevant to the application or expenditure of
money thereby appropriated, and that by a
strict adherence to this principle an important
and much-needed reform will be accom-
plished, Placing my objection to the bill on
this feature of its frame, torbear any com
ment upon the important general and per
manent legislation which it contains, as mat
ter for specific and independent consdera-
ton.
(Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANsIo ON, May 4, 1880