The Portland daily press., 1880-05-05
VETO.
The President Returns the Little
Deficiency Bill Unsigned.
HE OBJECTS TO RIDERS ON APPRo.
PRIATION BILLS.

WASHINGTON, May 4-The President TODAY
approved the Army and Fertilization Appro-
priation bills, and vetoed the deficiency Bill.
with the following message:
To abe House of Representatives.:
After mature consideration of the bill en-
ply certain deficiencies in appropriations for
the service of the government for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1880, and for other pur-
poses" / return 1t to the House OF Represen-
tatives, in which it originated, with my OBJ
iections to its passage The n eea
the payment of the fees OF United States
marshals and of general and special deputy
marshals earned during the current hscal year,
and their incidental expenses. The appro-
priations made in the bill are needed to carry
on the operations of the government and to
fulfill 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
delayed, that if the bill before me contained
no permanent or general legislation unconnec-
ted with these appropriations, it would receive
my prompt approval 1t contains however.
provisions which materially change and by
implication repeal 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 been denounced as unnecessary, oppres-
sive and unconstitutional. On the other hand.
it has been maintained with equal zeal and
earnestness that the election laws are indis-
pensable to fair and lawful elections. and are
clearly warranted by the constitution. Under
these circumstances to attempt in an apprO.
priation Eill the modification or repeal of these
laws is to annex condition to the passage of
needed and proper appropriations which tend
to deprive the Executive of that equal and in
dependent exercise of discretion and iudg-
ment 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 1 am clearly of
opinion, dangerous practice of tacking upon
appropriation bills general and permanent
legislation. This practice opens wide door
to hasty, inconsderate and sinister legislation,
1t invites attacks upon the independence and
by providing. an easy and effective
way of constraining Executive ,discre-
tion. 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 adoption of the constitution, and it
is confidently believed it is condemned by the
enlightened judgment of the country. The
states which have adopted new constitutions
during the last quarter of century have gem
orally provided remedies for lthe evil. Many
than one subject, which shall be plainly ex-
pressed in its title. The Constitutions of more
than half the States contain substantially this
provision or some other of like intent and
meaning. The public welfare would be pro-
NOTED in many ways by return to the Eearly
practices of the Government and to the true
rule of legislation. which is that every meas
ure should stand upon its own merits
| am firmly convinced that the appropriation
bills ought not to lcontain any legislation not
relevant to the application or expenditure of
the money thereby appropriated, and THAT by
strict adherence to this principle an important
and much needed reform will be accomplished
Placing my sobjection to the bill on this
feature of its frame, forbear any
comment upon the important general and per-
manent legislation which it contains as a mat
ter for specific and Independent consideration.
(Signed) RUTHERFORD B. HAYES