Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1882-08-03
PASSAGE OF THE $4,000. 600 STEAL
OVER THE VETO.

OVER THE VETO.
In vetoing the enormous steal EMU
tied 'the River and Harbor Bill" Pres
ident ARTHUR took position which,
considered as an act of public poity,
was commended by large majority OF
the people; but in q mere political
sense, placed him in direct antagonisn
10 the overwhelming sentiment Of the
party with which he is acting, as indi-
Gated by the action of the House in
passing it over his veto.
There is no question about the posi-
ton Of the Republican party upon this
measure and upon a like policy with 70
gard to the appropriations. Not only
the leaders of the majority party in
Congress, but the party press, have
given this bill their unqualified and
hearty Support.
They have declared that the Presi-
dent would not and could not dare to
veto the bill. The Western press has
been especially urgent in demanding
its passage and approval by the Presi-
dent. Some ofthe Legislatures Of these
States have instructed their representa-
tives in Congress to vote for it, and
there has been an equally strong aud
Outspoken response from these represen-
tatives. \ prominent Republican Con-
gresham, Gov. Pound, Of Wisconsin,
said, the other day:
1.-THE President cannot veto the bill
without impeaching the evidence which
the Government has secured, and cast
ing severe reflection upon the engineer
corps. Ifhe vetOes it the President sets
up his Judgment against that of 300
members of Congress, the Commerce
committees of the two houses, and the
skilled engineers Of the Government
who recommend what improvements
are needed. 1t is pretty bad thing for
one man to do. l don't think the Presi-
dent cares to take such position mere
ly to crafty lot of professional winners
who are always in great distress overex-
traNaSanCe anu COTTupllOu'
Senators WINDOW and MCMILLAN,
of Minnesota; Senators FERRY and
CONGER, of Michigan, and Senators
CAMERON and SAWYER, of Wisconsin,
all voted for the bill. The Northwest
ern States touching the lakes, as repre-
scented i'm the Senate, were a unit in
favor of the bill, except as to Illinois.
Senator LOGAN voted against the first
conference report, but after the bill was
passed he joined Senators ALLISON, Nc
MILAN, WINDOW, FERRY and others
in opposing veto.
Moreover the policy of large apprO-
priations for rivers and harbOrs was
plainly announced as one of the planks
in the platform of the GARFIELD cam
paign. Gen. GARFIELD, himself, put
the matter in the most attractive light
he could in his letter of acceptance,
when he assumed that there was 40
longer "any formidable opposition to
appropriations for the improvement OF
our harbOrs and great navigable rivers"
and declared that the navigation OF the
Mississippi river required exceptional
consideration. On the general question
he said: 1.-THE interests of agriculture,
which is the basis of all our material
prosperity, and in which seven-twelfth5
of our population are engaged, as well
as the interests of manufacturers and
commerce, demand that the facilities
for cheap transportation shall be in
creased by the use of all our great water
courses"
Nevertheless, with this distinctive
policy marked out by the Re publican
party in its last campaign, and upon
which Mr.. GARFIELD and Mr.. Arthur
were alike chosen, and which policy,
also, the leaders of the party in Congress
are carrying out to the letter, Mr.. AR
THUR suddenly stepped in to become
the champion of the opponents Of this
wholesale raid upon the Treasury, and
to throw the leaders of his own party
into confusion and cover them with the
modification of defeat.
But the millions which aspiring Con-
gressmen had congratulated themselves
upon having already within their
clutches for expenditure in their vari-
Ous sections were not to be relinquished,
even in the face Of the rebuke admins
tered from the White House.
AS party measure, we say, Mr.. AR
THURS veto was an act of rebellion
against the declared policy of his party,
but as peoples measure, his veto was
demanded by every consideration Of
craftsmanship and honesty. The Re
publican party has declared its willing
ness to go LefOre the people with this
Eighteen Million Steal sticking to their
fingers. 1t remains to be seen whether
public sentiment-the business prudent
sentiment of the people will sustain this
unexampled extravaganza in the use Of
the nublic finds