National Republican., 1880-05-05
CURRENT CAPITAL TOPICS.
Prompt Veto of the Deficiency Bill
and Its Rider.
Tho Case Plainly stated-Attempted Coer-
clon Repciled-River and Harbor Dnl
Reported - Business Before the
Cabinet Yesterday-Donnelly-
Springer Caso-The APP
preparation bills.
Tho presIdenps Veto Messnre.

The President sent the following message tol the
House OF Representatives yesterday:
TO The House Qf Representatives.:
Ancr mature consideration of the bill entitled
"An act making appropriations to supply certain
deficiencies in the appropriations for The service Of
the Government for the fiscal year ending June 30
1880, and for other purposes" return il to the
House OF Representatives, in which II originated,
with my objections to its passage.
The bill appropriatcs about SSO00000, of which
over 100000 is for the payment of the fees of Uni.
ted States Mnrshnls and of the general and special
deputy mnrshals earned during the current fiscal
year, and their incidental expenses. The appro-
nrialons made in the bill are needed to carry on
the operations Of the Government, and 10 filnn
is obligations for the payment Of money
and expenses essential to the execution of
their duties under the laws Of the United
States. The necessity for these appropriations IL so
urgent and they have been already so long delayed
that f the bill before me conaiued no permanent
or general legislation unconnected with these op-
preparations II would receive my prompt approval
II contains, however, provisions which materially
change, and by implication repeal, important parts
OF the laws for the regulation of the United States
elections. These laws have for several years past
been the subject Of vehement political controversy,
aud have been denounced as unnecessary, opprcs-
sive ana unconstitutional. On the other hand, II
has been maintained with equal zeal and earnest
ness that the election laws are Indispensable to
fair and lawful elections, and are clearly warranted
by the Constitution. Under these circumstances
to attempt in an appropriation bill the mOditca-
ton 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 exercise Of discretion aud judg.
ment which the Constitution contemplatcs.
The objection TO the bill. therefore, to which
respectfully ask your attention, Is that IL gives
marked and deliberate sanction, attended by no
circumstances Of pressing necessity to the ques-
tionabe, and as am clearly of opinion, the dan
gerous practice of ueking upon appropriation bills
general and permanent legislation. This practice
opens wide door to hasty inconsidcrntc and sin.
lister legislation. 1t invites attacks upon the indc
pendenCe and constitutional powers of the EXccu.
| tive by providing all easy and effective way OF
constraining Executive discretion. Although, Of
late this practice has been rcsortcd to by ul poiti
cal parties when clothed with power, II did moi
prevail until forty years after the adoption of the
| Constitution, and 1t is confidently believed that Il
| is condemned by the enlightened Judgment of the
country. The States which have adopted new con
stutlons during the last quarter ofR century have
generally provided remedies for the evil Many o
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 o
| the States contain substantially this provision o
| some other of like intent and meaning The pub.
return to The early practice of the Government ant
to the true rule of legislation, which is that ever,
measure should stand upon its own merits.
am firmly convinced that appropriation bill
ought not to contain any legislation not relcvun
to the application or expenditure Of the none,
thereby appropriated, and that by n strict Ndher
ence to this principle an important aud mucl
needed reform will be accomplished.
Placing my objection to the bill on this feature o
portant general and permanent legislation which
| contains as matter for specihc and Independent
consideration RUTHERFORD B. HAYES
| EXECUTIVE MANSION, May 4, 1880.