The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-13

ton was $4,000. The present
available balance is declared by the
following table: Amount of appro-
priatlons by act of August ID, lSS2.
slo,i 1870: amount of appropria-
ton by act Of June 18Th, iSS2.
slUO.OO0; amount of appropriation
Tor payments TOD. b. Eads. s3O5. 600.
unexpended balance of former ap-
preparations. s4,73S, ,263; total. s25.-
~ ,l3S; less amount drawn from
Treasury between July /, 1882. and
November 80, 1852, s6,056.19i, s17.-
l34,944. Ii is apparent by this ex-
hlbit that so far as concerns most of
the items to which the act of Au-
gust :, 1882, relates, there can be no
need OF further appropriations until
after the close of the present session.
II, however, any action should seem
to be necessary in respect to partic-
ular objects it will be entirely FEAST
bic to provide for those objects by
appropriate legislation. Ii is posi-
bic, for example, that delay until
the assembling of the next Congress
to make additional provisions tor
the Mississippi river improvements
might be attended with serious con-
sequences. III such should apfe ear
TO DC the Case, just bill rtlating 10
That subject would commaud my
approval. This leads me to otisra
suggestion. which trust will con-
mend itself to the wisdom of Con
gress. 1t is not advisable that grants
of considerable sums of money for
diverse and Independent schemes of
internal improvement should be
made the subject of separate and
distinct legislative enactments. IL
will scarcely be gainsayed, even bv
those who favor the most liberal ex-
penditures for such purposes as are
sought to be accomplished by what
is commonly called the river and
harbor bill, that the practice of
grouping in such bill appropria-
tons for great diversity Of objects
widely separated either in their ma
ture or in the locality with which
they are concerned, in both. Is one
which is much TO be deprecated.
unless it is irremediable. II newt
ably tends to secure the success Of
the bill as a whole, though many Of
the items, if separately considered.
could scarcely fail of rejection. By
the adoption of the course | have
recommended, every member Of
Congress, whenever opportun'.
should arise for giving his influences
and vote for meritorious appropria-
tions, would be enabled so to do
without being called upon to sane
ton others undeserving his approval.
so also would the Executive be af.
forded thereby full opportunity to
exercise his constitutional preroga-
tive of opposing whatever appropri-
ations seemed to him Objectionable
without imperiling the success Of
others which commended themselves
to his judgment. 1t may be urged
in opposition to these suggestions
that the number of works of inter
nal improvement which are entitled
to Governmental aid is so great as
to render impracticable separate APP
preparation bills therefor, or even
for such comparatively limited num-
Der as make disposion OF large sums
of money. This objection may be
well founded, and whether it be or
not, the advantages which would be
likely TO ensue from the adoption of
the course have recommended NAV
perhaps be more effectually attained
by another. which | respectly sub
nit TO Congress as an alternative
proposition.
It's provided by the constitutions
Of fourteen of our States that tie
executive may disapprove any item
or items of bill approprialing
money whereupon the part ef t!ie
bill approved shall te law and the
part di-approved should fui % be-
come law unless repassed according
to the provisions prescribed fJr tie
passage of bills over the veto of the
executive. The States wherein some
such provision as the foregoing Is
part of the fundamental Law are
Alabama, California, Colorado, Flor
ida, Georgia. Louisiana, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey,
New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and
West Virginia. commend to your
careful consideration the question
whether an amendment to the Fed
eral constitution in the particular
indicated would not afford the best
remedy for what is often a great EN-
barrassment, both to members Of
Congress and to the Executive, and
is sometimes a serious public rsis-
chief.
The report of the Secretary ofthe
Navy states that the movements of
the various squadrons during the
year, in home and foreign waters
where our officers and seamen with
such ships as we possess, have con-
tinued to illustrate the high charac-
ter and excellent discipline Of the
naval organization. On the 21st of
December, 1881, information was re-
eeived that the exploring steamer
Jeannette had been crushed and
abandoned in the Arctic regions.
The officers and crew, after a journey
over the ice, embarked in three boats
for the coast of Siberia. One of the
parties, under the command Of Chief
Engineer George w. Melville. reach
ed the land, and falling in with the
natives was saved. Another under
Lieut.. Commander De Long, landed
in barron region, near the mouth
OF the Lena river. and after SIX
weeks had elapsed all but two Of
the number had died from fatigue
and starvation. No tidings have
been received from the party in the
third boat under the command Of
Lieut.. Cbipp. But a long snd fruit
less investigation leaves little doubt
that all It's members perisbed at sea.
As slight tribute to their heroisn
| give in this communication the
names OF the gallant men who sac
rifced their lives on this expedition
Lieutenant Commander George W.
DeLoag, Surgeon james VI. Amber,
Io EnIl;ua L. ILL.,