Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1880-05-11
The President Signs the Appro,
priaton and Vetoes the De-
ficisncy Bill. <

AN@SAACJ ~
WASHINGTON, MAY 4.-The President
to-day signed the army appropriation
bill, and returned the deficiency bill to
the House with the following veto mes
sage: n ~
"To the House Of Representation:
"After mature consideration of the bill
entitled AN act making appropriations
to supply certain deficiencies in appro-
pristisns for the service Of the Govern
msnt for the fiscal year ending june 30,
1880, aud for other purposes, return 1t
to the House Of Representatives, IN
which It originated, with my objections
to Its passage. The bill appropriates
about $4,000 900, Of which over 100000
is for payment of fees Of United States
marshals and of general and special dep
uty marshals earned during the current
fiscal year and their incidental expenses.
The appropriations made In the bill are
needed to carry on the operations of the
Government ana 10 fulfil its obligations
for payment of money long since due to
its officers for services and expenses es-
sential to the execution of their duties
under the laws of the United States.
The necessity for these appropriations
is so urgent, and they have already been
so long delayed that IL the bill before
me contained no permanent or general
legislation unconnected with these sp-
preparations, It would receive my prompt
approval. 1t contains, however, provis-
ionf 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 controversy, and have been
denounced as unnecessary, oppressive
and unconstitutional. On the other
hand, it has been maintained with equal
zeal and earnestness that election laws
are indispensable to fair and lawful cleo
tions, and are clearly warranted by the
Constitution. Under these circumstan-
ces, to attempt In an appropriation bill a
modification or repeal of these laws Is to
annex conditions to the passage of need
ed and proper appropriations which tend
to deprive the Executive Of that equal
and independent exercise of discretion
aud judgement which the Constitution
contemplates. The objection to the bill
therefore, to which respectfully ask
your attention, is, that 1t gives naked
and deliberate sanction attended by no
circumstances Of pressing necessity, to
the questionable, and as am clearly Of
opinion, dangerous practice Of tacking
upon appropriation bills general and
permanent lcgislation.lt invites attacks
upon the independence and the constitu-
tionL powers of the Executive by pro-
vlding an easy and effective way
Of constralning the executive discretion.
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 confidently
believed that It 10 condemned by the en-
lightened judgement Of the country.
States which have adopted new consti-
tutions during the last quarter ofa CEN
tury have generally provided remedies
for the evil. Many Of them have en-
acted that no laws shall contain more
than one subject, which shall be plainly
expressed In the title. The constitu-
tions of more than half of the States con-
tain substantially this provision 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 rule Of legislation, which Ia that ev-
cry measure should stand upon its own
merits. am firmly convinced that ap-
preparation bills ought not to contain
any legislation not relevant to appropri-
alton or expenditure Of money thereby
appropriated, and that by strict adher-
ence TO this principle important and
much needed reform win be accomplish.
ed.
Placing my objection to the bill on
this feature Of its frame, l forbear any
comment on the important general and
permanent legislation which It contains
As a matter for specific and independent
consideration. Isignedl q
RUTHERFORD b. HAYEs.
Executive Mansion, May 4, 1880.