Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-04
Veto Message Of the President.


The President sent the following message to
the House of Representatives to-day;
To the House OF Representatives:
After mature consideration of the bill entitled
An act making appropriations TO supply Ger
tain deficiencies in the appropriations for the
service OF the government for the fiscal year
ending June so, 1850, and for other purposes l
return it to the House OF Representatives, in
Which 1t originated, with my objections TO its
The bill appropriates about ssooO,ooo, Of
which over 100000 is for the payment OF the
fees of I. S. marshalS, and of the general and
rent fiscal year, and their Incidental expenses.
The appropriations Made in the bill are needed
to carry On the operations OF the government
and to fulfil its obligations for the payment OF
money long since due to its officers for services
and expenses essential 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 If the bill before me contained no
permanent or general legislation unconnected
with these appropriations it would receive my
provisions which materially change and
by implication repeal, important parts of the
laws for the regulation of the Z. S. elections.
These laws have for several years past been the
subject OF vehement political controversy, and
have been denounced as unnecessary. oppres-
s1ve and unconstitutional. on the other hand
1t has been maintained with equal zeal and ear
neStneSS that the election laws are 1ndiSpenSa-
Bile to fair and lawful elections. and are clearly
warranted by the constitution. Under these
circumstances to attempt In an appropriation
OIL the 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 eX-
erclse OF discretion and Judgment which the
constitution contemplateS.
The objection to the bill. therefore, to which
l respectfully ask your attention. Is that Ii
gives a marked and deliberate sanction,
tended by no circumstances of pressing
necessity, 10 the questionable, and, as l
am clearly OF opinion, the dangerous
practice OF tack1ng upon appropriation bills
general and permanent legislation. This praC-
tice opens wide door to hasty, inconsiderate
and sinister legislation. 1t invites attacks upon
the Independence and constitutional powers OF
the executive, 10y providing an easy and effec.
Although, OF late. this practice has been reSOrted
to by all political parties when clothed with
power. 1t did not prevail until forty years after
The adoption of the constitution and it is con-
fidently believed that it is condemned by the
enlightened Judgment of the country. The
states which have adopted new constitutions
during the last quarter OF century have
generally provided remedies for the evil. Many OF
them have enacted that no law shall contain
more than one subject, 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 like intent and
meaning. The public welfare will be promoted
IN many ways Oy return TO the early practice
OF the government and to the true rule OF legis-
latlon, 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
the money thereby appropriated, and that by q
strict adherence to this principle an important
and much needed reform will be accomplished.
Placing my objection to the bill on this fea-
ture OF its frame, forbear any comment upon
the important general and permanent legisla-
ton which it contains, as matter for specific
and Independent consideration.
RUTHERFORD B. HAYES.
Executive Mansion, May 4, 1850.