Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1880-05-13
VETOED BY THE PRESIDENT.
Such was the Fate of the Deficiency
Appropriation Bili---FuIl Text Of the
MeSSlge.

Such was the Fate of the Deficiency
Appropriation Biii--Fnl Text Of the
Message.
WASHINGTON, May 4.-The president
sent to the house, to-day, the following
message vetoing the deficiency appropri-
alton bill:
To the House of Representatives.:
After mature consideration of the bill entitled
An act making appropriations to supply GER
tain deficiencies in appropriations for the ser
vice of the government for the fiscal year end
ing June 30th 1880, and ior other PURPOSES
/ return it to the house of representatives, in
which it originated with my objections to its
passage. The bill appropfiates about
Ss00.600 of which over $500 600 is 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 to its officers for
services and expenses essential to tho execution
Of then duties under the laws OF the United
States. The necessity for these appro-
priations is so urgent and they have been
already so long deferred that if the bill before
contained no permanent or legal legislation I'M
connected with these appropriations 1t would re-
ceive my prompt approval. 1t 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 as unnecessary oppressive
and unconstitutional. On the other hand it has
been maintained with equal zeal and
earnestness that the election laws
are indispensable to fair and lawful
elections ana sIo clearly WARRANTED, by the con-
stitrgion. Under these circumstances to at
repeal of those laws is TO annex Il condition to
the passage of needed and proper appropria-
tons which tends to deprive the executive of
that equal and independent exercise of discre-
ton and Judgment which the constitution con-
templates. The objection to the bill therefore
TO which / respectfully ask your attention, is
that 1t 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
uDon appropriation bills, general and pc manent
legislation. This practice opens wide the door
to hasty, inconslderate and sinister logis-
lation. It invites attacks upon the III
dependence and constitutional powers of
the executive by providing an easy and effective
way OF constituting executive discretion. Al
though OF late this practice has been resortod to
by ul political parties when clothed with power,
1t did not prevail until forty years after the
adoption of the constitution. and it is
confidently DcllcVed tnat IL Is condemned
by the enlightened judgment of the country.
The states which have adopted new consttu-
ton during the Inst quarter of century have
generally provided remedies for the evil. Many
of them have enacted that no law shall contain
more than one subject, which shall 10 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
~
practice OF the government and to the
true principle of legislation, which il
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
the money therein appropriated, and that by
strict adherence to this principle an
important and much-needed reform will
be accomplished Placing my objection
to the bill on this featuIe, l forbear any COM
ment upon the important general and perma-
nent Legislation which it contains rs matter for
specific and independent considera ION
(Signed) RUTHERFORD b. HAYES.
EXECUTIVE MANSION, 4th of May, 1880.