River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-08-10
KILLED.
The Infamous River and Harbor
Bill Vetoed
Congress Indignant and Pass II Over
the Veto.
SIC, 10000 of the Peoples Money
Squandered.

The iniquitous River and Harbor
bill, that appropriated nineteen mil
lions of the peoples money for use
less purposes, was vetoed by President
Arthur. While the presidents private
secretary stood waiting to return the
bill and number crowded around him,
there was a general restlessness in all
parts of the chamber. The speaker
quickly glanced over the first few lines
as soon as the clerk had opened the
huge envelope, and, seeing that it was
veto, Immediately laid the message
before the house. 1t was read by CLERK
Mcpherson, slowly and with emphasis,
while members preserved absolute ST.
lence until he read the remark that as
the bill became the more objectional
the more support it received in con-
gress. This
ASPERsIoN OF THE MOTIVES
of the supporters of the bill was re-
ceived with general laughter and indi.
cations of displeasure on the part oil
some. When the message had been
read through the republican leaders
made haste to adjourn the house, and
Chairman Page called a meeting of the
commerce committee to consider.
For time it look ed as if the house
had resolved itself into
AN INDIGNATION MEETING.
Expressions of dissatisfaction were
almost universal, and were especially
frank and extreme among the republi.
cans. That which gave particular
offense was the presidents assumption
of superior honesty of purpose and
greater wisdom than congress as to
what works for the Improvement oil
navigation should be undertaken. His
intimation that congress had engaged
in a general scramble for part of the
plumber, without regard to the public
interests, was vigorously resented by
some and excused by few. Some
members who had voted against the
bill voluntarily pledged themselves tc
vote to pass the bill over the veto, and
the general sentiment was undoubtedly
in favor of that course; but the cooler
heads advised consultation before do.
ing anything with the bill, or before
any individual should commit himself
to any line of action.
Following is the full text of the pres
ident's message:
To THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Having
watched with much interest the progress of houss
bill No. ., 242, entitled San act making appropri
tions for the construction, repair. and preserva
ton OF certain works on rivers and harbors anG
for other purposes" and having, since it was re-
ceived, carefully examined it, after mature con
sideration am constrained to return it herewith
~ Ill nafu
mated, without my signature and with my OBJ
jections to its passage. Many appropriations ii
the bill clearly for the general welfare anG
most benefcient in their character Two of tho
objects for which provision is made were by me
considered so important that felt it my duty t
direct to them the attention of congress. In my
annual message in December last | urged tht
vital Importance of legislation for recla-
nation of the marshes and for the establish.
ment OF harbor lines along the Potomac front
In April last, by special message, recommended
an appropriation for improvement of the Missis
sippi river. 1t is not necessary that / say that
when my signature would make the bill appro-
priating for these and other valuable nationa
objects a law it is with great reluctance. and
only under a sense of duty that withhold it
My principal objection to the bill is that it con-
tains appropriations for purposes not for common
defense or general welfare, and which do not pro-
mote commerce among the states. These pro.
fit of the particular localities in which it is pro-
posed to make the Improvements. | regard such
appropriation of public money as
BEYOND THE POWERS GIVEN BY THE CoNsTITU-
TIoN
to congress and the president. feel more bound
to withhold my signature from the bill because
of peculiar evils which manifestly result
from this infraction of the constitution
Appropriations of this nature, ia be de-
voted purely to local objects, tend to increase
in number and amount. As citizens of one
state find that NOR ey, to raise which. in common
with the whole country, they are taxed, is to be
EXPENDED for local Improvements il another
state, they demand similar benefits to themselves
and il is not unnatural that they should seek tC
indemnify themselves for such of the public funds
by securing appropriations for similar improve
ments in their own neighborhood. Thus as the
bill becomes more Objectionable, it secures more
support. This result is inevitable, and necessarily
follows neglect to observe the constitutional limi-
tations imposed upon the law-making power.
Appropriations for river AID harbor improve
ments have, under the influences to which l have
alluded, increased year by year out of proportion
to the progress OF the country, great as that has
been. In 1870, the aggregate appropriation was
So 075 900; in 1875, 1854 51750, in 1880, So :
976, 500, and in 1881, $lI ,45I 300 while by the
present act there is appropriated SAB ,S75
While feeling every disposition to leave to the
legislature the responsibility of determining what
amount should be appropriated for the purposes
of the BILL so long as appropriations are confined
to the objects indicated by the grant of congress
/ can not escape the fact that, as part of tn law
making power of the government, the duty de-
wolves upon me to
WITHHOLD MY SIGNATURE
from bill containing appropriations which, in
my opinion greatly exceed in amount the needs
of the country for the present fiscal year. 1t be-
ing the usage to provide money for these pur-
poses by annual appropriation BILL the president
is IN effect directed to expend so large an amount
OF money within so brief period that expendi-
ture can not be made economically and advan-
tageously. Extravagant expenditure of public
money is an evil not to be measured by the value
Oh that money to the people who are taxed for it.
They sustain greater injury in the demoraizing
effects produced upon those who are intrusted
with official duty through all the ramifcations OF
government These objections could be removed
and every constitutional purpose readily obtained
should congress enact that half only of the
aggregate amount provided for in the bill be ex-
pended during the fiscal year. and that the sum
so appropriated be expended only for such object
named in the bill as the secretary of war, under
direction of the president, shall determine; pro-
vided that in no case shall expenditure for any
one purpose exceed the sum now designated by
bill for that purpose. l feel authorized to make
this suggestion, because of the duty imposed up
on the president by the constitution to recon-
mend to the consideration of congress such meas
ures he shall Judge necessary and expedient,
and because it is my earnest desire that the pub
lie works which are in progress shall suffer no
injury. Congress will also convene again in four
months when this whole subject will be open for
their consideration.
CHESTER A. ARTHUR
Executive Mansion Aug. /, 1882.
In the afternoon both houses met
in perfect storm of indignation and
passed the bill over the presidents veto.
The senate Al to 10 and the house
1913 to co. 1t created great excitement
in Washington. The excitement also
extended rapidly to the larger cities.
The New York Tribune says of it: The
overwhelming vote in both houses
illustrates how thoroughly the greatest
swindle of the age has corrupted the
American congress. There was some
thing actually appalling in the manner
in which the veto was trampled under
foot. 1t was as if a lot of highwaymen,
by the refusal of the victim to
disgorge, had shot him down in mad
haste and rifled the corpse. Thus was
contaminated the boldest, most auda-
cious and INSCRIPTIONS robbery in
modern history. 1t was absolutely with
out the shadow of palliation. Every
man who voted for the brazen nineteen
dollar swindle deserves the GEN.
sure of his constituents. 1t will be
nothing short of political crime to
vote to return one of this corrupt crowd
to congress.
Treachery of Naval Officer.
1t has been now made public that
Herr Mei1ino one of the princinal nav