Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-12-05

growing out of the recent act of Congress,
making
THE RETIREMENT OLE OFFICERS OF THE
compulsory at the age of GA. The act of
1878 is still in force, which limits to four
hundred, the number of those who can be
retired for disability or upon their own ap-
plication. The two acts, when con-
strued together, seem to forbid the re-
ieving, even for absolute incapacity
of officers who do not fall within the pur-
view of the later st 4tute save at such times
as there chance to be less than four hundred
names on the retired list. There are now
four hundred and twenty. 1t is not likely
that Congress intended this result. and
concur with the Secretary that the law
ought to be amended.
The grounds that impelled me to with
hold my signature from the bill entitled
San act making appropriations for the
construction, repair and preservation of
certain works on
RIVERS AND HARBoRs,"
Which became law near the close of your
last session, prompt me to express the
hope that no similar measure will be deem
ed necessary during the present session of
Congress. Indeed, such measure would
now be open to a serious objection in addi-
ton to that which was lately urged upon
your attention. / am informed by the Sec
retary of War that the greater portion of
the sum appropriated for the various items
specified In that act remains unexpend-
ed. OF the new works which it
authorized, expenses have been incurred
upon two, only for which the total appro-
priation was $21O, 600 The present availa-
BILE balance is disclosed by the following
table:
AMOUNT OF APPROPRIATION, .
by act of August 2, 1882, S1S, 73S, S75.
Amount of appropriation by act of June
10, 1882, $4,000 Amount of appropria-
ton for payments to J. B. Eads, 1904, 900.
Unexpended balance of former appropria-
tions, $4, 736, 1868. Total, 1923, 79l, 1873.
Less amount dra Tn from the Treasury be-
tween July l. 1882, and November 80, 1882,
$6,056, 1874. Total, $17, 734, 844.
1t is apparent by this exhibit that SO far
as concerns most of the items to which the
act of August 2, 1882, relates, there can be
no need of further appropriations until after
the close of the present session. If, how
ever, any action should seem to be neces-
sary in respect to particular objects, it will
be entirely feasible to provide for those OBJ
Jects by appropriate legislation
1t is possible, for example, that delay
until the assembling of the next Congress
to make additional provision for
THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IMPROVEMENTS
might be attended with serious conse-
quences. If such should appear to be the
case. just bill relating to that subject
would command my approval. This leads
me to offer a suggestion which trust will
commend itself to the wisdom of Congress.
Is it not advisable that grants of considera-
BILE sums of money for diverse and indie
pendent schemes of internal improvement
should be made the subjects of separate and
distinct Legislative enactments 1t will
scarcely be gainsaid, even by those who
favor the most liberal expenditures, for such
purposes are sought to be accompli she'd by
what is commonly called the river and har-
Dor bill That the practice of grouping in
such bill
APPROPRIATIONS
for great diversity of objects, widely
separ ted. either in their nature or in the
locality with which they are concerned, or
in both, is one which is much to be depre-
GATED unless it is irremediable. It inevitably
tends to secure the success of the bill
as whole, though many of
the items, if separately considered,
could scarcely fail of rejection. By
the adoption of the course / have recon
mended, every member of Congress, when
ever opportunity should arise for giving his
influence and vote for meritorious appro-
priations, would be enabled so to do, with
out being called upon to sanction others,
undeserving of his approval; so, also,
would the executive be afforded thereby full
Opportunity to exercise his constitutional
Pr rogatiye of opposing whatever appro-
Pr ations seemed to him Objectionable,
without imperilng the success of others
! which commend themselves to his judgment
1t may be urged in opposition to these sug-
gest on, that the number of works of in
ternal Improvement which are justly en-
titled to governmental aid is SO great as to
| render impracticable
| SEPARATE APPROPRIATION BILLS;
| Therefore, or even for such comparatively
limited number as make disposition of
| large sums of money. This objection may
| be well founded; and whether it be or not,
| the advantage which would be likely to en-
| sue from the adoption of the course have
recommended may, perhaps, be more eff
fectualIy attained by another, which I res
pectfully submit to Congress as an alterna-
| tive proposition.
| 1t is provided by the constitutions of
| fourteen of our States that the executive
may disapprove any item or items, or items
| of bill appropriating money, whereupon
the part of the bill approved shall be law,
and the part disapproved shall fail to be-
come law, unless repassed according to
the provisions prescribed for the 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, alifornia, Colorado, Florida,
Georgia, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri,
Nebraska, New Jersey, Ne York, Pennsyl-
vania, Texas, and West Virginia.
I commend to your careful consideration
the question whether an
AMENDMENT OF THE FEDERAL CONSTITUTION.
In the particular indicated, would not afford
the best remedy for what is often grave
embarrassment, both to members of Con
gress, and to the Executive, and is some
times serious public mischief.
The report of the Secretary of
| TIE NAVY
States the movements of the various squad
rons during the year, in home and foreign
waters, where our officers and seaman witt
such ships as we possess, have continued tt
illustrate the high character and excellen
discipline of the naval organization.
On the 2lst of December, 1881, informa-
ton was received that the exploring steamer
Jeanette had been crushed and abandoned
in the Artic Ocean, the officers and crew
after journey over the ice, embarked il
three boats for the coast of Siberia One
of the parties, under command of Chie1
Engineer Geo. w. Melville, reached tn,
land, and falling in with the natives, was
saved. Another under
LIEUT.. COMMANDER DE LONG,
Landed in a barren region near the mouth
of the Lena River. After six weeks hao
elapsed all but two of the number had diel
from fatigue and starvation. No tiding
have been received from the party in the
third boat, under the command of Lieut.
Chip. But a long and fruitless investiga.
ton leaves little doubt that all its members
persisted at sea. AS slight tribute to thei
heroism give in this communication tn,
names ofthe gallant men who sacrificed thei1