Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-08-02
VETOED.
The President Vetoes the River and Ear
Dor Appropriation Bill-The Veto Mes
sage in Full.
ESPECIAL BY TELEGRAPH TO THE REcoRD-uslos. !

WASHINGTON, August 1st.-The Cabinet
to-day decided on veto of the river and har.
Dor appropriation bill. The President. sent
his message to Congress this afternoon. The
following is the message in full
To the House of Representatives Having
watched with much interest the progress OF
House bill No. 6242. entitled "An Act
making appropriations for the construction,
repair and preservation of certain works on
rivers and barbors, and for other purposes ~
and having since it was received carefully ex.
amined it, after mature consideration / am
constrained to return it herewith to the House
of Representatives, in which it originated.
without my signature, and with my objections
to its passage, Many appropriations in the
bill are clearly for the general welfare ard are
most beneficial in their character. Two Of
the objects for which provision is made were
by me considered 30 important that l felt il
my duty to direct to them the attention of
Congress in my annual message of December
last. l urged then the vital Importance of
legislation for the reclamation of marshes
and for the establishment of harbor lines
along TIE Potomac front. In April last by
"a special message, recommended an appro-
priation for the improvement of the Missis-
sippi river. It is not necessary that | saw
that when my signature would make bill Of
appropriations for these and other valuable
national objects law, it is with great
reluctance, and only under a sense of
duty that I withhold my signature. NY
principal objection to the bill is that it con.
tsins appropriations for purposes not for the
common defense or the general welfare, and
which does not promote commerce among the
States. These provisions, on the contrary,
are entirely for the benefit of particular To-
calities, in which it is proposed to make i'm.
provements. / regard such appropriations Of
public money as beyond the powers given by
the Constitution to Congress and the Presi
dent. l feel all the more bound to
withhold my signature from the bill
because of the peculiar evils which
manifestly result from this infraction of the
Constitution. Appropriations of this nature,
to bs devoted purely to local objects, tending
to increase in number and amount. As a
citizen of one State. l find that money is to
be raised for which others, in common with
tle whole country, are taxed, and it is to be
expended for local improvement in another
State. These others demand similar benefits
for themselves, and it is not unnatural that
they should seek to indemnify themselves for
such use of public funds. by secur.
ing appropriations for similar improve.
ments in their own neigborhood. Thus
as the bill becomes more Objectionable,
IIs
result invariably, and necessarily follows the
neglect to observe constitutional limitations
imposed upon the lawmaking power Appro.
priations for river and harbor improvements
have, under the influences to which have
alluded, increased year by year cut of all
proportion to the progress OF the country,
great as that has been. In 1870 the acgre-
gate appropriation was 50 975 900 in 1875,
S6,6iS.517 so; in 1880, IS. $40. 500; and in
1881, S1l, 45l, $780, while by the present Act
there is appropriated SIS 1855. While
feeling every disposition to leave 70 the Lsais.
lature the responsibility of determining what
amount should be appropriated for the purpose
OF the bill, 80 long rs the appropriations
are confined to the objects indicated BY the
grant CT power, l cannot escape the conclu.
sion that, as part of the law.makins power
of the Government, duty devolves upon me
to withhold my signature from bill contain.
ing appropriations which, in my opinion,
greatly exceed in amount the needs of the
country for the present fiscal year. 1t being
the usage to provide money for these purposes
by annual appropriation bills, tee President
is, in effect, directed to expend SO large an
amount of money within so brief period
that the expenditure cannot be economically
and advantageously made. The extrayagant
expenditure of public money is an evil not to
be measured by the value of that morey
to the people who are taxed for it.
They sustain greater injury in the demon
slizing effect produced upon those who are
intrusted with official duty. through sill the
qualifications OF the Government These OBJ.
jections could be removed, and every consti-
tutionM purpose readily obtained, should
Congress enact that one-haif only of the sg-
gregate amount provided for 10 the bill will
be appropriated for expenditure during the
fiscal year, and that the sum so appropriated
be expended only for such object named in
the bill IS the Secretary of War, under diFec.
ton of the President, shall determine pro-
vided, that In no cases shall the ex.
penditure for any one purpose exceed
the sum now designated by the bill for this
purpose. feel authorized to make this sug
gestion because of the duty imposed upon
the President by the Constitution TO recon.
mend to the consideration of Cengre.s such
measures as he shall deem necessary and ex-
pedient, and because it is my earnest desire
that public works which are in progress shall
suffer no injury. Congress will also convene
again in few months, when the whole sub.
ject will be open for their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
Executive Mansion, August 1, 1882.
The Presidents veto of the bill created
much excitement in Washington. Senators
and Representatives begged for the approval
VI the Dius Oenator EQmundS and other
strong men urged the veto of the bill TIE
House received the veto with great astonish
ment, and, after ADJOURNMENT, an exsraordi.
nary scene was witnessed on the. floor.
Members, especially the friends of the bill,
gathered in groups and discussed the veto.
In the hest of passion the most violent
demonstrations against the President were
poured cut on sll sides by friends ef the
measure. Democrats and Republicans alike
were loud ia expressions OF anger, and the
members of the Commerce Committee out
ranked all others in their violence
Regarding the veto of the river and harbor
bill the House Commerce Committee held
meeting last night and agreed on a policy of
action. The committee was unanimously of
the opinion that the President had made a
blunder. and the committee refused to rec.
ommend his suggestion for s lump sum to be
expended under the Secretary of Wsr. TIE
committee believe the bill can be passed
over the veto. and an effort to that end will
be made. The committee say if the So. 900
600 for the Mississippi and Potonsc Fiats Is
deducted the amount will be but 81 $50. 900
every item of which has been indorsed NV
the Engineer Corps.
SENATOR JONES, of Nevada. is pestered 70 death
BY applicants for Federal positions.