The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1882-08-10
River and Harbor Bill Veto,

Following is the fuh text of the Presidents
message vetoing the river and harbor appro-
priation bill:
TO the House Of Representatives:
Having watched with much interest the pro.
gress of House bill No. 6,242, entitled can Act
making appropriations for the construction, re-
pair and preservation of certain works on rivers
and harbors and for other purposes" and hay-
ing since it was received carefully examined Il.
after mature consideration am constrained to
return it herewith TO the House of Representa-
tives, in which it originated, without nv sigma
ture and with my objections TO its passage
Many of the appropriations in the bill are
clearly for the general welfare and most bene-
ficial in their character. Two of the objects for
which provision Is made were by mo consid-
cred go important that I 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 for the
reclamation of tho marshes and for the estab-
lishment of the harbor lines along The Po-
tomac front. In April last, by special mes
the improvement Of the Mississippi river.
1t Is not necessary that 1 say that
when my signature would make the bill ap-
propriating for these and other valuable
national objects law, it is with great reluct-
ance and only under a sense OF duty that
withhold it. My principal objection to the bill
is that it contains 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
localities in which it is proposed to make
the improvements. l regard such appro-
priation of the public money as beyond tho
powers given by the Constitution to Congress
and the President. l feel The more bound
to withhold my signature from the bill because
OF the peculiar evils which manifestly result
from this infracton of the Constitution. Ap-
nat IN Ia otoJ L..
to local objects telid TO increase in number and
in amount. AS the citizens of one State find
that mopey-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 themselves,
and 1t is not unnatural that they should seek to
indemnify themselves for such use of the
public funds by securing appropriations for
similar Improvements in their own
neighborhood. Thus, as the bill becomes more
Objectionable it secures moro support. This
result is invariable and necessarily follows a
neglect to observe the constitutional Limitations
imposed upon the law-msking power.
The a. preparations for river and harbor i'm
provements have, under the influences Of which
have alluded, increased year by year out OF
proportion to tho progress OF the country,
great as that has been. In 1870 the aggregate
appropriation was SO 975, 800; in 1875, Sc 6ls,.
$3.50; in 1880, sS976 500, and in 1881, s1l,-
45l, 800; while by the present act there is ap-
propriated sl8, 743,S75.
While feeling every disposition to leave to
the legislature the responsibility OF determin-
ing what amount should be appropriated for
the purposes OF the bill 80 long as the appro-
priatons are confined to objects indicated by
the grant OF power, cannot escape the conclu-
sion that as part Of the law-making power OF
the government the duty devolves upon me to
withhold my signstuIe from the bill containing
appropriations which in my opinion greatly ex-
nf thn ,krxy IL
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 tho OK
penditure cannot be made economically and
advantageously.
The extravagant expenditure of 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 greater injury in
the demoralizing effect produced upon those
who are intrusted with official duty through all
the ramitcations Of government. These OBJ
| jections, could be removed and every constiu-
tional purpose readily obtained should Con-
gress enact that one-half only Of the aggregate
amount provided for in the bill be appropriated
for expenditure during the fiscal year, and
that the sum 80 appropriated be expended only
for such objects named in the bill as the secre-
tary Of war under the direction Of the
President shall determine provided that in no
case shall the expenditure for any one purpose
exceed the sum now designated by the bill for
that purpose. feel authorized to make this
suggestion because OF the duty imposed upon
the President by the Constitution to recon-
mend 10 the consideration of Congress such
measures as he shall judge necessary and eI-
pedient, 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 confederation.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, August /. 1882.