The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-08-09
-~A>S%-
The River and Harbor Bill Veto.
The Presidents message is as follows :
To the House of Representatives

The Presidents message is as follows
To the House Of Representatives
Having watched with much interest the
progress OF House bill No. GAP, entitled AN
act making appropriations for the cOnstruc-
ton, repair and preservation Of certain works
on rivers and harbors and for other purposes,
and having since it was received carefully
examined il. after mature consideration | am
constrained to return il herewith to the House
of Representatives in which it originated,
without my signature and with my objections
to its passage.
Many of the appropriations in the bill are
clearly for the general welfare and most bene-
ficent in their character. Two of tue objects
for which provision is made were by rue CON
sidered so important that felt it my duty to
direct them to the attention of Congress In
my annual message in December last / urged
the vital Importance of legislation tor the
reclamation of the marshes and for the estab-
lishment of the harbor lines along the Potomac
front. In April last, by special message, l
provement of the Mississippi River. 1t is
not necessary that [ say that when my sigma
ture would make the bill appropriating for
these and other valuable national objects a
law, it is with great reluctance and only I'M
der sense of duty that | withhold it. My
principal objection to the bill is that it con-
Iains appropriations for purposes not for the
common defense or general welfare, and
which do not promote commerce among the
States. These provisions, on the contrary, are
entirely for the benefit of the particular local
tiles in which it is proposed to make the i'm
provements. regard such appropriation of
the public money as beyond the powers given
by the Constitution to Congress and the Pres
ident. | feel the more bound to withhold my
signature from the bill because of the peculiar
evils which manifestly result from this infrac-
tion of the Constitution. Appropriations Of
II. IN, ha Inr tad nI-
jects tend to an increase in number and in
amount. As the citizens of one State find that
money-to raise which they in common with
the whole country are taxed-is to be ex-
pended for local improvements in another
State they demand similar benefits for them
selves, and it is not unatural that they should
seek to indemnify themselves for such use of
the public funds by securing appropriations
for similar improvements in their own neigh
borhood. Thus, as the bill becomes more OBJ
jectionable, it secures more support. This
result is invariable, and necessarily follows u
neglect to observe the constitutional limitations
imposed upon the lRw-making power
1.-THE appropriations for river and harbor i'm
provements have under the influences to which
have alluded increased year by year out of
proportion to the progress of the country,
great as that has been. In 1870 the aggregate
appropriation was s., 975.990 in 1875, So 648,-
$780, In 1889, $S,976,5O0, and in 1881, $l1,-
45l 300, while by the present act there is ap-
priated SIS, 743, 875.
''While feeling every disposition to leave to
the Legislature the responsibility of deter
mining what amount should be appropriated
for the purposes of the bill, so long as the ap-
preparations are confined to objects indicated
by the grant of power, | cannot escape the con-
ciusion that as part of the law-making power
of the Government the duty deEolves upon me
to withhold my signature from the bill con-
tanning appropriations which in my. opinion
greatly exceed in amount the needs GfOthe
country for the present fiscal year. 1t being
the usage to provide money for these purposes
by annual appropriation bills, the President
is in effect directed to expend so large an
amount Of money within so brief period that
the expenditure cannot be male economically
and advantageously.
1.-THE extraYagant expenditure OF public
money is an evil not to be measured by the
value of The money to the people who are taxed
for it. They sustain greater injury in the
demoralizing effect produced upon those who
are intrusted with official duty through all the
ramifcations of Government. These objec
tions could be removed and every cOnstitu-
tional purpose readily obtained should Con-
gress enact that one-half only of The aggre-
gate amount provided for in the bill be appro-
priated for expenditure during the fiscal year,
and that the sum so appropriated be expend-
ed oaly for such objects named in the bill as
the Secretary Of Var under the direction of
the President, shall determine; provided that
IN no case snail the expenditure faf Sng one
purpose exceed the sum now designated by
the bill for that purpose. l feel authorized to
make this suggestion because of the duty i'm
posed upon the President by the Constitution
to recommend to the consideration of Congress
such measures as he shall judge necessary and
and because it is my earnest desire
that the public works which are in progress
shall suffer no injury. Congress will also con-
vene again in four months, when this whole
subject will be open for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, August l, 1882
(The public are already advised that
the bill passed both Houses of Congress,
and is a law, the Presidents veto to the
contrary Notwithstanding