Ashtabula weekly telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1880-1886, 1880-05-14

wAsmNGroN, May T.
Tho President sent to the House to-
day the following message, vetoing the
Deficiency Appropriation bills
To the House OF Representatives:
After mature consideration of the bill en-
titled " An act making appropriations TO sup
ply certain deficiencies In the appropriations
cal year ending June 30, 1850, and for other
purposes | return it TO the House of Repre-
seutatiycs, In which It originated, W tn my
prop iltcs about Ss00J0l Of which over
SGJj,0U Is for the payment OF the
fees of United States Mnrshals aud of
general and special Deputy Marshals earned
during the current iiscul year, ana their incl
dental expenses The appropriations made in
the bill are needed to carry on the operations
of the Government and to fulfill its Ubliga-
tions for the payment of money long since due
TO LIS OilCes for services and expenst essen
tial 10 the execution Of their duiies under the
laws ( 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 LEGISLATION uncnnnected with these
appropriations, II would receive my prompt
APP oval IL contains, lowever, pTovis-
mIlon ti, i , I g ~ ~ ~
for the regulation Of the United States cleo
tions. These laws have for several years beeu
the subject OF vehement political controversy,
and have been denounced ns unnecessary, OPP
pressive and unconstitutional. On the other
hand, it has been maintained. with equal zeal
and earnestness that the election laws are in
dispensabe 60 fair aud lawful elections, and
are clearly warranted by the Constitution.
Under these circumstances to attempt, I'm an
appropriation bill, modification or repeal OF
these laws Is TO annex n condition TO the
passage of needed and proper appropriations,
which tends TO deprive the Executive
of that equal and independent eXer-
else Of discretion and Judgment which the
Constitution cOnteml lates. The objection to
the bill, therefore, to which | respectfully ask
your attention is that I gives marked
cumstances of pressing necessity, to the
questionable and, as am clearly of the opin-
ion dangerous practice OF tacking upon APP
preparation bills general ind permanent legis-
latiOn. This practice opens wide the door TO
hasty, ncOnsiderute ana SIMS or lei Station.
II invites AIT cks upon the Independence and
constitutional powers OF tne Executive by
providing an easy and effective way of con-
struininR the Executive discretion. Although
of hte this practice h9s been resortcd
with power, it did not prevail until
forty years after the adoption OF the
Constitution and IL Is confidently believed
that It is condemned by the enlightened judg-
ment of the country The states which have
adopted new Constitutions during the last
quarter Of century have generally provided
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 hall
/ 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 the
! 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
strict adherence 70 this principle an important
and much-needcd reform will be accom-
| plished. Placing my objection TO the bill or
| this feature of its frame, | torbear any com
ment upon the important general and per
manent legislation which 1t contains as mat
ter for specific and Independent considera
! tiOn.
| (Signed) RUTHERFORD b. HATES.
EXECUTIVE MANsI ON, May 4, 1880.