The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-05-05

Whole on tie post-ofiice appropriation b;I,
| II appropsIates s3S,676, 420-being 81 .oai :
500 below the estimates, and S94O, 600 obovo
the appropriations OF last year.
| Mr.. Dunneli, OF Minnesota, moved n IN.
crease the appropriation for mail transno
iation on railroads TO s9,S00,000.
No quorum voted on the amendment. and
toe committee rose without action on the
bill, and the House adjourned.
The President signs the Appropria.
lion and vet0es the Deficiency R,I,.
| WASHINGTON, May 4.-The President 10.
day signed The army appropriation bin, and
returned the deficiency bill 10 the House.
with The following veto message:
To the House Of Representatives.
After mature consideration OF the bill
entitled An act making appropriations TO
supply certain deficiencies in appropria.
tons for the service OF the Government for
the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890, and
for other purposes" return II to the House
OF Representatives, In which it originated
with my objections to ITS passage. The bill
appropristes about IS, 600, 900. OF which over
100000 is for payment OF fees OF United
States marshals and OF general and special
deputy marshals earned during the cur
rent fiscal year and their incidental ex.
pcnses. The appropriations made in the
bill are needed to carry on the operations
OF the Government and TO fulfil its
obligations for 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
hov boa
deaye that il the bill before me contained
no permanent or genera! legislation uncon.
pected with these appropriations 1t would
receive my prompt approval. 1t contains,
however. provisions which materially
change, and by implication repeal, import
ant parts OF the laws for the regulation
Of United States elections. These laws
have for several years past been the SUBJ
ject OF vehement political controversy,
and have been denounced as unnecessary,
oppressive. aud unconstitutional. On the
other hand, it has been maintained with
equal zeal and earnestness that election
laws are indispensable 10 fair and lawful
elections, and are clearly warranted by the
Constitution. Under these circumstances,
to attempt in an appropriation bill modiii-
cation or repeal OF these laws is to annex
properappropriations which tend to deprive
| the Executive OF that equal and independ-
ent exercise OF discretion and judgment
which the Constitution cOntemplates. The
objection TO the bill therefore, to which |
respectfully ask your attention. Is that
| it gives q naked and deliberate sanction, at
tended by no circumstances OF pressing ne
cessity, 20 the questionable and, as am
~ nil nf
lacking upon appropriation bills general
and permanent legislation. This practice
opens wide the doorto hasty, inconsiderate,
and sinister legislation. II invites attacks
upon the independence and the consttu-
tiona powers OF the Executive By provid-
ing an easy aud effective way OF constrain-
] ing the Executive discretion. Although Of
I 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 II Is
confidently believed that it is condemned
by the enlightened judgment OF the coun-
try. States which have adopted new con-
stitutions during the last quarter OF GEN.
fury have generally provided remedies for
the evil. Many Of 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 huff OF the
States contain substantially this provision
or some other OF like intent aud meaning.
The public welfare will be promoted in
many ways by return to the carly prac-
tice OF the Government, and to the true rule
OF legislation, which IL .hat every measure
should stand upon its own merits. l am
firmly convinced that appropriation bills
ought not to contain any legislation not
relevant to appropriation or expenditure
OF money thereby appropriated, and that
by strict adherence to this principle i'm
portant and much.needed reform will be
accomplished.
Placing my objection to the bill on this
feature OF its frame, forbear any comment
on the important general and permanent
legislation which it contains as matter for
specific and Independent consideration.
[Signed] RUTHERFORD u. HAYES.
| E,recufiue Mansion, May 4, 1880.