The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1880-05-20
Veto of the Deficiency Bill.

WASHINGTON, May 4.-The President
sent to the House to-day the following
message, vetoing the deficiency appro-
priation bill:
After mature consideration of the bill
entitled, ETC., | return it to the House
of Representatives with my objections
to its passage. The bill appropriates
about 100000, of which over 100000
Is for the payment of fees of U. S.
marshsls and general and special deputy
marshals, earned during the current ifs
cal year, and their incidental expenses.
The appropriations made in the bill
are needed to carry on the operations of
the Government and to fulfill it's obliga.
tions for the payment of money long
since due its officers for services and ex-
pcnses essential to the execution of their
duties under the laws of the United
States. The necessity for these appro-
priations is so urgent, and they have
been already so long delayed, that if
the bill before me contained no perma-
nent or legal legislation unconnected
with these appropriations, it would re-
ceive my prompt approval. 1t contains,
however, provisions which materially
change, and by implication repeal i'm
portant parts of laws for the regu-
lation of United States elections
These laws have for several years
past been the subject of vehe-
ment political controversy, and have
been denounced as unnecessary, op
pressive and unconstitutional. On
the other hand it has been maintained
with equal zeal and earnestness that the
election laws are indispensable to fair
and lawful elections, and are clearly
warranted by the Constitution. Under
these circumstances to attempt in an ap-
preparation bill modification or repeal
of these laws is to annex condition to
the passage of needed and proper appro-
priations which tends to deprive the ex-
ecutive Of that equal and independent
exercise 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 and deliberate
sanction attended by no circumstances
of pressing necessity to the questionable,
and as l am clearly of the opinion, dan
gerous practice of lacking upon appro-
priation bills general and permanent
legislation. This practice opens wide
the door to hasty, inconsiderate and sim
lster legislation. 1t invites attacks
upon the independence and Constitu-
tional powers of the executive by pro-
viding an easy and effective way Of con-
straining executive discretion.
Although of late this practice has
been resorted to by all political parties
when clothed with power, it did not
prevail until forty years after the adop
ton of the Constitution, and it is conf
IDENTIFY believed that it is condemned by
the enlightened Judgment of the coun-
try. States which have adopted Con
stitutons during the last quarter Of a
century have generally provided rene
dies for the evil Many of them have
enacted that no laws shall contain more
than one subject, which shall be plainly
expressed IN its title. The Constitu-
tions of more than half the States con-
tain substantially this provision or some
other of like interest and meaning. The
public welfare will be promoted i'll many
ways by the return to the early practice
os the Government and to true legisla-
ton, which is that every measure should
stand upon its merits l am firmly con-
WINGED that appropriation bills ought
not to contain any legislation not reva-
lent to the application or expenditure of
money thereby appropriated, and that
bv strict adherence to this principle an
important and much need reform will be
accomplished.
Placing my objection to the bill on
this feature of its frame, | forbear any
comment upon important general and
permanent legislation which it contains,
as matter for specific and independent
consideration.
RUTHERFoRp L. HAYES.
May 4, 1880.