The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1880-05-14
VETOED by THE PRESIDENT.
such was the Fate of the Deficiency
Appropriation Bill-FuIl Text Oh Inc
meSsnKe.

MessaKes
WASHINGTON, May 4.-The president
sent to the house, to-day, the following
message vetoing the deficiency approprl-
alton bill:
To The House Of Representatives.:
After mature consideration Of the bill entitled
"An act making appropriations to supply Ger
tain deficiencies III appropriations for the ser
vice of the government for the fiscal year end
ing June S6th, 1880, and for other purposes"
return 1t to the house of representatives, III
which 1t originated, with my objections to its
passage. The bill appropriatcs about
$500, 900 Of which over $GO6, 900 il for the pay
ment of fees Of United States marshals and Of
general and special deputy marshals earned
during the current fiscal year and their inciden-
tai expenses. The appropriations made in the
bill are needed to carry on the operations OF the
government to fulfill its obligations for the pay
ment of money long since due 10 its officers for
services and expenses essential to the execution
of their duties under the laws of the United
States. The necessity for these appro-
priations IL urgent and they have been
already so long deferred that if the bill before me
contained no permanent or legal legislation un-
connected with these appropriations II would re-
ccive my prompt approval. II contains, how
ever, provisions which materially change and by
implication repeal the important parts OF the
laws for the regulation of United States elections.
These laws have for several years past been the
subject Of vehement political controversy, and
have been denounced NJ unnecessary, oppressive
been maintained with equal zeal and
carncstness that the election laws
are Indispensable to fair and lawful
elections and are clearly warranted by the con-
Stitution. Under these circumstances to at
tempt in an appropriation bill a modification or
repeal Of those laws in To annex a condition to
the passage of needed and proper appropria-
tons which tends to deprive the executive of
that equal and independent exercise of dscre-
ton and Judgment which the constitution COLI
templates. The objection to the bill therefore
to which l respectfully ask your attention, il
that il gives marked and deliberate sanction, at
tended by circumstances OF pressing necessity,
to the questionable, and as | am clearly of the
opinion the dangerous practice OF lacking
upon appropriation bills, general and permanent
legislation. This practice opens wide the door
to hasty, inconsderate and sinister lcgis-
lation. II invites attacks upon the i'll
dependence and constitutional powers of
the executive by providing an easy and effective
way of constraining executive discretion. Al
though of late this practice has been rcsortcd to
by AL political parties when clothed with power.
1t did not prevail until forty years after the
adoption Of the constitution. and it is
confidently believed that il j. condemned
by the enlightened Judgment of the country.
The states which have adopted new constltu-
ton during the last quarter of n century have
generally provided remedies for the evil. Many
Of them have enacted that no law shall contain
more than one subject, which shall lie plainly
expressed in its title. The constitutions OF more
than half the states contain substantially this
provision, or some other of like intent and
meaning. Public welfare will be promoted in
many ways by return to the early
practice of the government and to the
true principle of legislation. which is
that every measure should stand upon its own
merits. am firmly convinced that appropria-
ton bills ought not to contain any legislation not
relevant to the application Or expenditure of
strict adherence to this principle an
important and much-needed reform will
be accomplished. Placing my objection
to the bill on this featuIe, forbcar any conf
ment upon the important general and perma-
ncnt legislation which it contains as n matter for
specific and independent considerai ion.
(Signed) RUTHERFORD Il. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 18th of May, 1880.