The daily Cairo bulletin., 1882-08-03
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VETOED.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

"'u'l text OF the presidents messseage We
TONG the river and barber bill.
10 the house of representatives. Havin,
watched with much interest tho propres
OF house bill No. 5,242, entitled "An ac
making appropriations for the construction
repair and preservation of certain works or
rivers and harbors and other purposes - apc
having since 1t was received, carefully ex.
amlned IT. after mature consideration am
constrained to return it herewith TO the
mousse OF representatives., in which II
originated, without my signature and with
my objections to its passage. Many an
preparations in the bill are clearly for the
general welfare aud most bene6cient ir
'I'elr character. Two OF the objects for
winch provision is made were by me con.
sldered so important. felt itmy dutv IN
oiiect 10 them the attention of congress in
my annual message in December last 7
urged the vital Importance of lerislatior
lot 'he reclamation Of marshes and for the
establishment of harbor lines along the
POTOMAC front. In April last by special
message recommended the appropriation
LOT 'le Improvement of the Mississippi river.
IL Is not necessary that say that when nv
signature would make the bill approprating
ior these and other vauabenational obiects
law it is with great reluctance and only
under sense of duty that withhold it.
MY PRINCIPAL OBJECTION
to the bill is that it contains approximations
lor purposes not for common good or general
welfare. and which do not promote
commerce among the states. These proyis-
ions, on the contrary, are entirely for the
benefit OF particular localities in which II
Is proposed to make improvements. regard
such appropriations of public money as be-
yond the power given by the constitution
10 congress and the president fe ell more
bound to withhold my signature from the
Oil because of the peculiar evils which
manliesty result in this infraction of the
constitution. Appropriations of this nature
to be devoted purely to local objects, tend
to increase in number and amounts As
citizens ot one state find that money 70
raise which they, in common with the
whole country, are taxed, is to be expended
ior improvements in another state, they
demand similar benefits for themselves.
ana 1t Is not unnatural they should seek TO
ldemnlfy themselves for such out of the
puohc funds by securing appropriations for
similar improvements in their own neigh.
Oorhood' Thus, as the bill becomes more
Objectionable, it secures more support. This
result Is inyariable aud necessarily folows
preparations Tor rTv1I iiy ioioWs
meuts hHrc under the influence 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 ag-
glegate appropriation was $3,975,90O; in
1875, $6,64S, ,6l7; in 1880, $s,976,50O, and
in 1881, Sl1, ,451, 300 while by the present
act there is appropriated S19,743S75.
While feeling every disposition to leave to
the legislature the responsibility of deter
mining whatamount should be appropriated
tor the purpose of the bill, so long as ap
preparations are confined to the objects in
dicated by the grant of power, | cannot
escape the conclusion that, as part of the
law making power Of the government, the
duty devolves upon me to withhold my sig.
nature from bill containing appropriations
which in my opinion greatly exceed in
amount the needs of the country for the
present fiscal year. 1t being 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 made economically
and adventageously Extravagant ex-
pendture of the public money is an evil
not to be measured by the value of that
money to the people, who are taxed for it,
They sustain great injury in.
THE DEMoRAL,z ZINC EFFECT
Produced upon those who are entrusted
with official duty through all the ramitica
cations Of government.
These objections could be remov ed AM
: every constitutional purpose readily OBJ
o tanned should enact that one
i half only of the aggregate amount provide
+ for in the bill be appropriated for expendl
g ture during the fiscal year, and that tn
a sum to be appropriated be expended onl
n for such objects ramed in the bill as tn
At secretary of war, under direction of til
s. president shall determine; provided, tina
" ia no case shall the expenditure for an
ID one purpose exceed the sum now designate
AZ by the bill for that purpose feel at
" thorized TO make this suggestion becaus