Morris tribune., 1882-12-14
RIVERS AMI HARBORS.

The grounds that induced me to withhold my
signature from the bill entitled can act making
appropriations for the construction, repair
and preservation of the certain works on
rivers and harbors" which became a law near
the close Of your last session, prompt me to
express hope that no similar measure Will be
deemed necessary during the present session
of congress Indeed, such q measure would
now be open to a serious objection in addition
to that which was lately urged upon your
attention am informed by the secretary Of
war that the greater portion of the sums appro-
priated for the various items speclhed IN that
act remains unexpended. vi the new works
which it authorized, expenses have been in
Cured upon two only, for which the total ap-
preparation was 100000. The present avail
able balance is disclosed By the following
table:
Amount Of appropriation by act Of ~.
Aug z, 1SSZ..... ,......... @Aos 10000
June 10, 1852. " $1,000 10000
Amount Of appropriation for payment oo,oo
priation - " - 4.7ss,2e
Total. s23, 7e1, 13s
Less amount drawn from treasury be-
tween July l, 1882, and Nov. 30,
lSS2...... aluminium. ........ o'ooo' Ao4
Total. ...... S17.734, s44
1t is apparent by this exhibit that so far as
concerns most of the items to which the act
of August 2, 1882, relates, there can be no
need of further appropriations until after the
close of the present session. II, however, any
action should be necessary in respect to partlo-
ular objects it will be advisable to provide
for those objects by appropriate legislation; 1t
| is possible, for example, that delay until the
| assembling of the next congress to make addi-
| tonal provision for the Mississippi river i'm
provement might be attended with seriou
consequences. If such should appear to be
| the case, just bill relating to that subject
would command my approval This leads me
| to offer - suggestion. which 4 trust will COM
| mend itself to the wisdom Of congress Is il
| not advisable that grants of considerable sumf
Of money for diverse and independent schemes
! Of internal improvement should be made
the subjects OF separate and distinct legislative
ensctments? 1t ill:scarcely be gainsaid, even
| by those who favor the most liberal expendi-
| lures for such purposes as are sought to
be accomplished by what is commonly called
the river and harbor bill, that the practice of
grouping in such bill appropriations for a
great diversity Of objects widely separated,
either in the nature or the locality with which
they are concerned, or in both, is one
much to be deprecated, unless its inevitable
| tendency ia to secure the success of the bill as
| . whole, though many of the items if separately
considered could scarcely fail of rejection.
By the adoption of the course have recon-
I
opportunity should arise for giving his IN
| huenoe and vote for meritorious appropr-
atoms, would be enabled so to do without being
| called upon to sanction others undeserving his
approval So also would the exc cutive be af-
| forded thereby full opportunity to exercise
his constitutional prerogative of opposing
| whatever appropriations seemed to him OBJ
| jeotionable without imperiling the success of
| others which commended themselves to his
judgment It may be urged in opposition to
these suggestions that the number Of works of
internal Improvement which are justly en-
der impracticable
| SEPARATE APPROPRIATION BILLS
| therefor, and even for such comparatively
limited numbers as make disposition OF large
sums Of money. This objection may be well
founded, and whether it be or not, the advan-
tages likely to ensue for the adoption
Of the course have recommended may per-
haps be more effectually attained by
another which I respectfully submit
to congress as an alternative proposition.
1t Is provided by the constitutions Of fourteen
of our States that the executive may disap-
prove any item or items of bill appropriating
money, whersupon the part of the bill ap-
proved shall be law, and the part disapproved
rhall fail to become law, unless repassed,
according to the provisions prescribed for the
passage of bills over the veto of the executive.
The States wherein some such provision as
i the foregoing is Q fundamental law are Ala
bama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebras-
i ka, New Jersey, New York, Penn.
sylvania and West Virginia. I commend
to your careful consideration, the question
whether on amendment of the federal constitu.
ton, in this particular indicated, would no
afford the best remedy for what is often grave
Il embarrassment, both to the members of con
gress and to the executive, and is sometimes {
serious public mischief