Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-02


Special DispGtch 10 the Register.
WASHINGTON, August This afternoon
the President returned the River and Har-
bor Bill TO the House without his signature,
accompanied by message setting forth at
length his reasons for disapproying the
bill He admits that many OF he provis.
ions are for the general welfare, and that
two of the objects-reclaiming The Wash
ington marshes and the improvement OF
the Mississippi-were such as hld called
for executive approval; but his principal
objection is, that it contains app? 'priations
for purposes not for the comm N defense
or general welfare, and which O. not pro-
mote commerce, but are simply beneficial
to special and particular localities.
Such appropriations he regards as
unconstitutional. Not only so, but they
show a tendency to constantly increase
until they have become great and crying
evil. The more Objectionable the bill, the
more strength it has, because Of the num-
Der of localities to be benefited, and the
result is that after once overstepping the
Constitutional barrier, there is no stop
ping place. He then cites the increase in
the River and Harbor bill from $3,975,90
in 1875 to the present one, which appro-
pirates $1S,743,S75, and continues that
while he has every disposition to leave the
responsibility of such measures to the
Legislative branch, so long as the appro-
priationS are confined to legitimate objects
of improvement, yet he feels constrained
to refuse his signature for the reasons
stated, and the further fact that the
amounts greatly exceed the present needs
of the country.
The message isquite lengthy; but is man.
ly and straightforward in tone, aud cannot
fail to make a good impression. 1t is the
first direct blow at the jobbers, and will
serve to enforce what the Democratic press
haye so frequently repeated, that this is
the most dissolute and extravagant Con-
gress that has ever assembled. ,,n
WHEN the, ,RapublicanS, took pccTrNowing
with criticism of the errors and shortcom-
ings of their Democratic predecessors, and
brimful of promises as to what they were
going to do for the pubic veal, they COM
menced in the House with the formation
of combination, directed in large part
from Ine OulSluC, MllCl OlCSOSN -
incompetent Speaker, and through MIN
packed nearly all the important com
mittees of the House in favor
of corporations, Jobbers ana
partisan interests. In consequence OF the
inability of the Speaker to maintoin his
own dignity and preserve order, the floor
| of the House has been given over to scenes
of ruffianism andindecency which have had
| no parallel in the former history OF that
| BODY, ey en- in times of the greatest political
| excitement. 1t has been years since so
many Jobs were put through the body, and
| never have so few private claims OF merit
| been passed. In the Senate month after
| month was dawdled away, that body ad,
! iourning over for days at time, and
| occupying only two or three hours
with its daily sessions. Congress
has now been in session eight months;
| no one can predict with any certainty
whether it will adjourn in one, two or three
| weeks. But whenever it does adjourn, the
sum total of its ACHIEVEMENTS. in which the
| country at large can have any possible in
terest will be the passage of the appropria-
tion bills, which all ought to have been
passed three months ago. Not one other
measure of national Importance, not one
act for the benefit of the people, or the ad.
yancement of the commercial interests OF
the country has been or will be sent by the
Republican majority Of the two houses OF
Congress to the President for his signature.
The Chinese bill is the only measure
which can be considered in the
light OF general iegislauon, !,
of a comparatively small section of the
country, and in the opinion Of some Of the
wisest statesment was inexpedient and con-
trary to the genius of our institutions. The
bankrupt bill and the tax reduction bill
two measures in which the entire body OF
the people had deep concern, have been
suffered to sink out of sight, without nope
of resuscitation. The months that were
wasted in idle and proftless discussion
could very we'll have been given to the con
sideration of these important subjects
Certainly no member OF the dominant par
ty IN Congress can, when he goes home 70 e
his constituents expect to hear: "Wel
done, good and faithful servant